Terri Morris Downs is the executive director of the Immigrant Welcome Center of Indianapolis. Downs was involved in the development of the Immigrant Welcome Center and has served as the executive director of the organization since 2007. The Immigrant Welcome Center empowers immigrants by connecting them to the people, places, and resources that enable them to build successful lives and enrich our community.

Since its opening, the Immigrant Welcome Center has served more than 10,000 immigrants and refugees. As executive director, Downs manages programs that support and help empower immigrant families by connecting them to resources needed to help them transition to life in Indianapolis. Downs also works with other nonprofits, community partners, and local corporations to support efforts to help make Indianapolis a welcoming community.

Downs and her staff coordinate the Natural Helpers volunteer program, a program that connects immigrant newcomers with established immigrants who live in Indianapolis. Natural Helper volunteers connect immigrants to information and referral for jobs and job training, language assistance, housing, public transportation, health care and legal needs. Under her direction, the volunteer program has grown from 12 volunteers to 138 volunteers who speak 75 different languages and represent 43 countries. In 2013, Downs oversaw the opening of five Immigrant Welcome Center branches to help immigrant newcomers in neighborhoods where they live and work.

In addition to the Natural Helpers program, the Immigrant Welcome Center provides educational programming through the Sara I. and Albert G. Reuben Series and coordinates the Welcoming Indianapolis initiative, a local affiliate of Welcoming America, which aims to connect immigrants and refugees with native-born citizens.

Downs is an alumna of Butler University and a former special assistant to Mayor Bart Peterson and deputy director of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee.