For Ewelina Connoly, becoming an American citizen was never just a formality. It was a commitment.
Fifteen years after taking the oath of citizenship, Ewelina, a Circle member and alum of The Policy Circle’s civic leadership program, is taking the next step in that commitment and running for Allen County Commissioner (District 3) in Indiana. While she has served her community for decades through her work in nonprofit leadership, she is now running for elected office to continue that service in a new way.
A JOURNEY TO AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY
Ewelina immigrated to Fort Wayne from Poland thirty years ago. Like many immigrants, she built her life step by step. She learned the language, established her career, raised her family, and became deeply rooted in the community that became her home. After nearly 15 years as a green card holder, she made a deliberate decision to become a U.S. citizen.
“I didn’t take it lightly,” she says. “When you naturalize, you are making a decision to pledge allegiance to this country.”
For Ewelina, citizenship was not symbolic. It was a deeply held commitment. She chose not to pursue dual citizenship, and when she took the oath, she did so with clarity and intention. But becoming a citizen was only the beginning.
“It takes time to feel like you even have the right to participate in the democratic process,” she reflects. “You develop that identity of what it means to be an American over time.”
SETTING HERSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
Once Ewelina decided to get involved in politics, she took decisive steps to prepare. She joined the Mitch Daniels Leadership Program, where she built valuable relationships that led her to become more involved in Fort Wayne. She also participated in the Lugar Series, further strengthening her network and understanding of public leadership. Through those connections, she met Circle Leaders Lindsay Hannah, Amanda Muldoon, and Jamee Lock, who introduced her to their Fort Wayne Circle and to the Civic Leadership Engagement Roadmap (CLER), The Policy Circle’s civic leadership program.
For Ewelina, CLER was an opportunity to deepen her understanding of American civics and its founding principles. Having grown up outside the United States, she had not experienced the same classroom exposure to U.S. government, so the program gave her a chance to study it intentionally as an adult.
“CLER was a huge confidence builder,” she says. “It gave me the structure and accountability to really engage with the material and learn.”
Through CLER, she strengthened her understanding of how government works and gained confidence in stepping into civic leadership. The experience helped equip her with the knowledge and perspective needed as she began considering a run for office.
WHEN A CIRCLE BECOMES A SUPPORT SYSTEM
While CLER helped Ewelina build the civic knowledge and confidence to step into public life, her Fort Wayne Circle provided something equally important: support.
“A Circle is a confidence builder in two ways: you grow in confidence because you’re learning, and because you’re surrounded by people who support you.”
That support became especially meaningful when Ewelina decided to run for office.
Today, all three of her Circle leaders serve on her campaign’s “kitchen cabinet,” acting as trusted advisors as she navigates the challenges of campaigning.
Their involvement shows that a Circle is more than a place to discuss policy. It can become a community that encourages women to step into leadership and stands behind them when they do.
“We say we want to see women in leadership,” Ewelina says. “And here, that’s exactly what’s happening.”
A COMMITMENT TO OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
Ewelina’s path to public office is shaped by two very different experiences of government. She grew up in Poland under a communist system, an experience she describes as “soul-crushing” and completely opposite to the freedom she later found in America.
“The American dream is built on opportunity, competition, and hard work,” she says. “When you put in the effort, you can expect results.”
As she watched conversations about socialism gain traction in American politics, she felt an increasing urgency to step forward and get involved.
For Ewelina, running for county commissioner is one way to help ensure that local government reflects the values she believes make opportunity possible.
Her life experience shaped her belief that government should be led with the same sense of responsibility and stewardship she practiced throughout her nonprofit career. She believes public officials should treat taxpayer dollars with the same care nonprofit leaders give donor resources.
“We are entrusted with taxpayers’ money,” she says. “We need to treat it like a shoestring budget and be judicious.”
STEPPING FORWARD TO SERVE
For Ewelina, running for County Commissioner is a natural extension of the journey she began when she chose to become an American citizen.
From investing in civic education through CLER, to building a strong support system through her Circle, to decades of nonprofit leadership in Allen County, each step helped prepare her for this moment.
Now, she hopes to bring those experiences into public service, helping ensure that local government reflects the values that shaped her own story.
Because for Ewelina, leadership is not about seeking office. It is about stepping forward when the moment calls for it.
