Fort Wayne Urban League releases ‘State of Black Fort Wayne’ report showing local gaps in jobs, housing and health

The Fort Wayne Urban League released the “State of Black Fort Wayne” report on Oct. 27, 2026; the linked 21Alive report says the Community Research Institute at Purdue University Fort Wayne compiled and analyzed the data. The release was scheduled for Oct. 27 at the Fort Wayne Urban League offices, 2135 S. Hanna St., per Urban League materials.

The report compares outcomes for Black residents in Allen County with white residents and with Indiana and U.S. averages across education, employment and income, health outcomes and homeownership. The coverage cites Black homeownership in Allen County at just over 41% and lists the national Black homeownership rate at 45.40%. 21Alive and the Urban League say infant mortality rates for Black babies in Allen County remain far higher than national averages; Fort Wayne Urban League President and CEO Aisha Arrington is quoted saying local infant mortality rates are still double national averages and that the report revives Vernon Jordan’s legacy locally: “We honor his legacy, not just by bringing this data back to the community but doing the work behind it.”

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