Three years after Fort Wayne’s Inclusion Mural first brought a bold splash of color and an equally bold message to downtown, many of the people who helped make it possible returned to celebrate—and to add something new.

The commemorative gathering, held during National Inclusion Week, brought together Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker, Embassy Theatre President & CEO Kelly Updike, and former Audiences Unlimited board members Debby Beckman and Jenny King. The mural’s original artist, Suzi Rhee, and collaborators from Life Adult Day Academy (LADA), leaders from the Embassy board and staff, The League, Turnstone and Visit Fort Wayne also were there, and Patti Hays, the CEO from WindSwell, the foundation whose support helped fund the original project.

Audiences Unlimited artists, Bob and Marty, played several musical pieces and really set the tone for the event, and David Van Gilder and the team at Fletcher Van Gilder, were wonderful hosts.

The Inclusion Mural located at 436 E Wayne St. in Fort Wayne, was created to celebrate a community where people of all abilities are welcomed, valued, and given the opportunity to participate fully. Three years later, its message remains every bit as important—and the day served as a reminder that inclusion itself is never a finished project.

Former Audiences Unlimited Executive Director Anna Ross, who was unable to attend the anniversary celebration, shared a message for the occasion: “The Inclusion Mural showcases what happens when access, equality, and inclusion are foundational principles of life.”

That vision was on full display as old friends, original collaborators, civic leaders, and supporters gathered around the mural once again.

The anniversary was a celebration of how far the community has come, but it was also an invitation to keep going. Inclusion isn’t something we accomplish once, check off a list, and move on. Like the mural itself, it is something where each of us has the opportunity to make a contribution. Every welcoming gesture. Every barrier removed. Every effort to make sure someone feels seen, heard, and included adds another brushstroke.

National Inclusion Week gives us a wonderful reason to celebrate that work. The newly refreshed Inclusion Mural reminds us that the opportunity to practice it continues all year long.