About Us

In the fall of 2023, a group of immigrant community leaders and supporters of the immigrant community met to discuss common needs and opportunities among immigrant groups. The discussion focused on the rapid growth of our local immigrant population and their needs, barriers to success, and current efforts and opportunities to address them. The group also met with local nonprofits and service providers to learn more about challenges they face serving immigrants in the Evansville region.

Conversations highlighted common needs among immigrant communities such as English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, support for navigating available programs and services, immigration legal support, translation/interpretation services, transportation, among others. In response, the group decided to develop an Immigrant Welcome and Resource Center to serve as a hub bringing together existing organizations, projects, and individuals to coordinate initiatives supporting the immigrant community for greater impact. The initial group became a Steering Committee and founding board for the Immigrant Welcome and Resource Center organization, which became an IRS recognized 501 (c)(3) nonprofit in May 2024.

Throughout the rest of 2024, new community partners, funders, and Advisory Board members are coming together to support the Center. We began programming offering cultural competency trainings and collaborating with the Vanderburgh and Warrick Community Foundations to gather more accurate data about the immigrant community. We are fundraising and planning programming, to begin offering services from a physical location in early 2025.

Our Vision, Mission, and Core Values

We envision a thriving tri-state community where immigrants are welcomed, have equitable access to opportunities, and leverage their talent to strengthen our region. To help bring this vision about, our mission is to serve as a trusted partner and advocate for immigrants, providing opportunities that help them thrive so we can build a more welcoming and prosperous region for all. Our core values guide this work:

Collaboration: We work with key stakeholders and community partners who interact with immigrants, including nonprofits, service providers, employers, individuals, etc. to support local initiatives and expand programs and services as needed.
Equity: We want immigrants and refugees, regardless of background, to enjoy access to the people, places, and things that will help them become thriving, contributing members of our community.
Trust: We cultivate relationships through shared experiences to build a sense of belonging, safety, and caring for each other to meet enduring needs and positively impact our region.
Service: We prioritize the growth, well-being, and empowerment of the people we serve, and the individuals and community partners we serve with.
Multiculturalism: We value the various cultures represented in our community, believe in promoting the skills, experiences, and assets immigrants bring to our region, and advocate for others to leverage them to build a more prosperous region.