Immigrant Welcome Center

The Immigrant Welcome Center empowers immigrants by connecting them to the people, places, and resources that enable them to build successful lives and enrich our community.

Are you passionate about helping others and working with diverse communities? Then our Natural Helper volunteer program might be for you. Our lead volunteers, called Natural Helpers, provide direct help to immigrants and refugees transitioning to life in Indianapolis. Many of our Natural Helpers are immigrants themselves who understand the challenges of moving to a new place, learning a new language, finding employment, and establishing a new home in a foreign country.

In 2005, former First Lady of Indianapolis Amy Minick Peterson led a study to determine how immigrant newcomers’ needs were being met in Central Indiana. Together with members of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC), chaired by community leader Yvonne Shaheen, Mrs. Peterson researched various immigrant populations and their needs, facilitated focus groups with service providers and studied best practices in other cities for assisting immigrants and refugees.