INDIANAPOLIS—Christ Church Cathedral (CCC) announced today the next recipient of their newly refreshed Outreach Grant program, a partnership comprised of both funding and faithful volunteer engagement. Immigrant Welcome Center (IWC) is the third and final 2022-2023 recipient under CCC’s program. IWC is dedicated to empowering Indy’s immigrants by connecting them to the people, places, and resources they need in order to thrive.
“Immigrant Welcome Center is honored to be chosen as a recipient of the CCC’s Outreach Grant. Our work and mission are aligned, with a keen focus on ensuring that our communities are welcoming to new neighbors. This grant will ensure enhanced access to IWC Connect—our online database that has been developed to provide resources and information, in more than 120 languages, for basic needs such as food, housing, transportation, legal services, and more to those who may need them,” said Gurinder Kaur, Chief Executive Officer at Immigrant Welcome Center. “With the engagement of the volunteers from CCC, we will be able to serve more immigrants who are interested in learning English and becoming citizens. We will also use these funds to support our multilingual language line.”
The partnership stems from CCC’s intention to support immigrant families and includes a $40,000 grant along with an additional commitment of time and talent contributions from CCC congregants.
“The sense of belonging and care the Immigrant Welcome Center offers to immigrant families fully embodies the Gospel’s call to love our neighbors as ourselves,” said CCC Canon and Director of Community Relations Mariann Scott. “This partnership is a clear opportunity to support crucial programming in our community and invest our time, talent, and treasure in the well-being of our immigrant and refugee neighbors.”
CCC’s new approach to granting is centered around the goal to nurture strong partnerships with local nonprofit groups and make a transformative difference in the neighborhoods around us.
Following a year of discernment and intentional conversations with downtown neighbors, conversations with potential nonprofit partners, and parishioner feedback, CCC has faithfully narrowed its outreach efforts for the next three years to three key areas: ministry with people experiencing homelessness, advocating for fair immigration practices, and helping people with immigration needs, and working toward interrupting and ending systemic racism.
Through various programs, each of which addresses various social, civic, and economic integration efforts, IWC empowers Indy’s immigrants to successfully adapt and integrate.
“CCC’s mission is to glorify God, serve our neighbors, and transform our city,” continued Scott. “This partnership with Immigrant Welcome Center is one of the many ways that we faithfully live into the work God is calling us to do each day.”
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Christ Church Cathedral is a reverent and progressive church located on Monument Circle, in the heart of Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1837, CCC is a spiritual hub of transformation for the city and diocese, following Jesus Christ in practicing radical hospitality, working for justice, and proclaiming God’s peace, reconciliation, and love.