KEYS TO THE CITY INITIATIVE™

The Keys to the City Initiative™ is a regional collaboration designed to strengthen economic and cultural ties between major Midwest markets through the arts. Modeled after the Sister Cities International program, the initiative connects leaders in business, government, education, faith, and the creative sector to drive inter-city investment, youth development, and cultural innovation.

The Keys to the City Initiative™ aligns creative enterprise with community and economic development. The initiative positions the arts as a catalyst for talent attraction, tourism, and small-business growth—helping cities build stronger identities, deeper collaboration, and more resilient local economies beginning at the grassroots level.

Through joint performances, exhibitions, workshops, and business partnerships, we create opportunities where art, commerce, and community reinforce each other—turning inspiration into investment, and connection into measurable progress.

To support the pilot phase of the Keys to the City Initiative™, the Midwest Arts and Unity Initiative has been established as the nonprofit implementation partner—providing the organizational framework, community leadership, and strategic coordination needed to convene partners, advance programming, and transform the vision and foundational scaffolding already in place into a scalable regional movement.

Six years after the murder of George Floyd, many leaders carry an awareness that the work we spoke about in 2020 remains unfinished.

The Reconciliation Lab for Leaders is designed for senior leaders across diverse sectors who identify as Christians - whether their work is faith-based, in the marketplace, or beyond. This development series is for leaders seeking to navigate today’s cultural, social, and ideological challenges with integrity, courage, and skill — for the sake of their organization's success and in service to Fort Wayne’s future.

This is not simply a dialogue space. Participants engage guided discussion, practical tools, and real-world leadership scenarios designed to strengthen discernment, communication, and long-term effectiveness.

At the center of this work is the belief that our ultimate hope is found in Jesus Christ and His teachings on truth, justice, humility, and love of neighbor.

Rather than fearing conversations surrounding DEI, culture, race, or political difference, leaders are invited to approach them faithfully, thoughtfully, and with growing competence.