About Us

Immigrant Welcome Center

Our History

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.

By 2006 Immigrant Welcome Center, as it is known today, was established with the help of 12 volunteers known as Natural Helpers. One year later, an executive director was hired, and by January 2008, IWC moved its office into the John H. Boner Community Center.

After expanding, in 2015, IWC relocated to Fountain Square, where resided on the third floor of the Southeast Community Services Center. In May 2021, Immigrant Welcome Center moved to the main branch of the Indianapolis Public Library located on 40 E. St. Clair Street.

 

Mission + Vision + Values

Mission + Vision + Values

Our Mission

To be a trusted partner and advocate for all immigrants.

Our Vision

Every immigrant in Indiana is thriving.

Values

Equity • Accountability • Collaboration • Trust

Our Team

  • Christina Arrom Garza, J.D.

    Christina Arrom Garza, J.D.

    Chief Operating Officer

    carrom@immigrantwelcomecenter.org

    Christina Arrom Garza is a first-generation Cuban-American lawyer that uses her expertise to serve her community. She has experience working with nonprofits to build capacity, advocate for equality, and drive impact. Christina has directly …

  • Diana Avila

    Diana Avila

    Naturalization and Legal Services Coordinator 

    davila@immigrantwelcomecenter.org

    Diana Avila is originally from Honduras. At the age of 4, she moved to the U.S. with her family. She has lived in Indianapolis ever since, but it has not been easy. Being an immigrant and DACA recipient, Diana has held a passion …

  • Mistie Rivas

    Mistie Rivas

    Marketing and Communications Coordinator 

    mrivas@immigrantwelcomecenter.org

    Mistie Rivas is passionate about assisting and connecting the immigrant community to the resources they need. As an immigrant and first-generation college graduate herself, she understands the obstacles …

  • Parvinder Gulati

    Parvinder Gulati

    Community Navigator

    pgulati@immigrantwelcomecenter.org

    Parvinder Gulati was born and raised in New Delhi, India. His middle-class parents instilled in him the value of hard work and community service. As a Sikh, he believes in seva, selfless service performed without expectation of reward …

  • Gurinder Kaur

    Gurinder Kaur

    Chief Executive Officer

    gkaur@immigrantwelcomecenter.org

    Gurinder Kaur is a servant leader, compassionate advocate for equity, and champion for social justice. Gurinder was born and brought up in New Delhi, India. Her formative years were influenced by her middle-class working parents …

  • Ginger Kosobucki

    Ginger Kosobucki

    ELL Director

    gkosobucki@immigrantwelcomecenter.org

    A life-long language learner, Ginger Kosobucki appreciates the difficulties immigrants face in a culture whose dominant language is not their own. Her work focuses on creating more opportunities for English language learning for immigrants …

  • Mary Leier

    Mary Leier

    Development Manager

    mleier@immigrantwelcomecenter.org

    Mary Leier grew up in Metro-Detroit where she was exposed to diverse groups of people and cultures. Dedicated to equity and social justice, she is a first-generation college student with a Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies …

  • Sergio Roldan

    Sergio Roldan

    Natural Helper Volunteers Coordinator 

    sroldan@immigrantwelcomecenter.org

    Sergio Roldan was born and raised in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and relocated with his family to Atlanta, Georgia shortly after the 1996 Olympic Games. Growing up in a multicultural city such as Atlanta influenced Sergio …

  • Juan Padilla

    Juan Padilla

    Manager of English at Work 

    jpadilla@immigrantwelcomecenter.org

    Juan Padilla was born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, where he majored in International Relations and Finance at the Universidad de la Costa…

  • Nilofar Sherzad

    Nilofar Sherzad

    Community Navigator 

    nsherzad@immigrantwelcomecenter.org

    Nilofar Sherzad has worked at various national and international organizations for children and women’s rights. She has more than ten years of experience in the fields of advocacy, human Rights…

Our Board

  • Naomi Kwang

    Naomi Kwang

    Chair

    Partner, Barnes and Thornburg, LLP

  • Lisa Sirkin Vielee

    Lisa Sirkin Vielee

    Vice Chair

    Owner & President, Well Done Marketing

  • Nida Ansari

    Nida Ansari

    Treasurer

    The Heritage Group

  • Ashley Overley, M.D.

    Ashley Overley, M.D.

    Secretary

    Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center

  • Linda Simba

    Linda Simba

    Clinical Labs & Data Sciences Advisor, Eli Lilly and Company

  • Michael B. Murphy

    Michael B. Murphy

    President, CUMARSAID GROUP INC.

  • Luisa Macer

    Luisa Macer

    Community Outreach & Fan Engagement Manager, Indianapolis Motor Speedway

  • Charles J. Garcia

    Charles J. Garcia

    President & CEO, C GARCIA ASSOCIATE, INC.

  • Amy Minick Peterson

    Amy Minick Peterson

    Founder and Board Member Emerita
    Decorate

  • Dulce Vega

    Dulce Vega

    Sr. Director of Development, La Plaza, Inc.

  • Mario Rodriguez

    Mario Rodriguez

    Executive Director, Indianapolis Airport Authority

  • Leonard Hoops

    Leonard Hoops

    President & CEO, Visit Indy

  • Aaron Spiegel

    Aaron Spiegel

    Executive Director, GIMA

  • Mark Wuellner

    Mark Wuellner

  • Kristie S. Johnson, PhD, CFRE

    Kristie S. Johnson, PhD, CFRE

    Vice President of Institutional Advancement,
    Martin University 

  • George Khazal

    George Khazal

    VP of Systems and Infra Engineering, Salesforce