Jaclyn, we see your name all over the place; can you tell us what all you’re involved in here in the Fort Wayne community?
I’m a reporter with The News-Sentinel and have worked at various positions at Fort Wayne Newspapers for more than three years. As a Fort Wayne transplant, being a reporter has been a great opportunity to fully immerse myself in the Fort Wayne culture and community. It’s a great job to have when you’re a newbie in town. It also has provided me the chance to met great folks and share beautiful stories.
I am also involved in Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana. I joined when I first moved here as a way to develop personal and professional relationships. YLNI does absolutely amazing things for Fort Wayne and develops a culture that attracts and keeps young professional in Fort Wayne.
I am also involved with two organizations called Earth Charter and Sustainability Indiana 2016. I learned about it while interning at NUVO in Indianapolis where my mentor taught me the importance of environmentalism and sustainability. As two statewide organizations, the leaders were looking for a Fort Wayne coordinator to help connect our environmental leaders and their endeavors with various groups and activists around the state to build an understanding and connect citizens. We meet once a month or so to update each other on project, talk about current events and have a drink. I am also have a deep love and respect for the Central Branch YMCA that helps promote healthy living and an active lifestyle.
How long have you lived in Fort Wayne and what brought you to the Summit City?
I’ve lived in Fort Wayne for more than three years. What brought me here was a job, and right out of college that’s a huge blessing, but I never realized how much of a blessing living in Fort Wayne would be. Since I lived here, I have learned to love a lot about Fort Wayne. From the trails and parks to the downtown revitalization projects, Fort Wayne is the perfect size. I hate driving so I love the fact commuting is a breeze around here and I can even ride my bike anywhere I need to go. I also love the fact it’s a healthy and active the community. My large adopted lab/boxer mix Napoleon’s favorite part is the dog park. A job brought me here, but my love of Fort Wayne is keeping me here.
Where are you from originally, and what are some of the similarities and differences between your hometown and Fort Wayne?
I was born and raised in Elkhart, which is only two hours northwest of Fort Wayne. While Fort Wayne and Elkhart do not have much in common, I think the Midwestern charm is consistent no matter where you are in the Hoosier state. What growing up in Elkhart taught me is that all folks come from various walks of life, whether blue collar or white collar, and it's best to relate to people by trying to "walk in their shoes". During the height of the Great Recession, my hometown was the poster child representing the dire situation of unemployment throughout the country. But, Hoosiers are not one to back down from a challenge, which is why you see cities like Elkhart and the manufacturing industry in Fort Wayne finally bouncing back.
What are some of your favorite events that happen in the Summit City throughout the year?
Fort Wayne is always my favorite during the summer. I love the fact people can attend any number of free festivals to help us learn about our city and enjoy it to the fullest. Three Rivers Festival is one of my favorites. I also love Fort4Fitness because it brings people together in an active and healthy environment. I am also a huge fan of the YLNI and House4aHouse block parties. They both add the young, hip atmosphere to downtown.
What are your hopes for the future of our city?
I have a lot of hope and faith in Fort Wayne's ability to grow. Since my three years living in Fort Wayne, I have already seen a lot of change, and that's not stopping. Thanks to folks from the Downtown Improvement District, Wunderkammer, Arts United, the Asher Agency and the support from the City of Fort Wayne, I feel as if Fort Wayne and the downtown area will continue to provide safe, fun and educational events and programs to the whole community. I also hope that as a community we can come together to help bridge the racial, educational and social gaps in this city. Last year was a tough year for us as we continued to see our homicide count grow each month, but I feel we as a community understand a recognize this and are continuing to find ways prevent this from happening. Fort Wayne is the second largest city in Indiana, we are not small beans anymore, and Indy will have some tough competition in the upcoming years.
