On August 23, three new AmeriCorps VISTA members joined Girls Inc. for a year of service. Learn more about their projects and what they look forward to at Girls Inc. below!

Cassandra Sanborn, Development Specialist

What will some of your primary responsibilities be as a Girls Inc. VISTA? As a Development Specialist VISTA for Girls Inc., I will be responsible for helping implement strategies for a planned giving program and helping develop resources to support fundraising efforts, which includes researching sources of funding and writing grants.  

What about the Girls Inc. mission appealed to you? I love the Girls Inc. mission because it focuses on giving girls the tools they need to be successful. I think that it’s important to remember that many girls struggle with things like low self-confidence or negative feelings about their bodies, and that many girls don’t know how to stand up for themselves in unsafe situations. I’m most eager to see how the things I’m doing benefit the girls, and to get a working knowledge of how a non-profit functions on a daily basis.

Emily Elzer, Video Production Specialist 

What will some of your primary responsibilities be as a Girls Inc. VISTA? For the next year, I will be focusing on documenting different aspects of the Girls Inc. organization. I will be filming the girls in various programs for future use with web marketing, enewsletters, and volunteer training. 

What about the Girls Inc. mission appealed to you? Being from Indianapolis and growing up with a sister, I understand the importance of strong mentors and guidance for young girls in our city. I am so excited to use my video and production background to help document the important work Girls Inc provides.

Karen O'Quin, Evaluation Specialist 

What will some of your primary responsibilities be as a Girls Inc. VISTA? As the Evaluation Specialist VISTA, I will be revamping the agency dashboard to ensure that Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis has a clear and concise way to track organization health and progress towards overarching goals. I will also be reviewing and analyzing program outcomes.

What about the Girls Inc. mission appealed to you? I was drawn to Girls Inc. because I grew up in a family of strong, independent women and I wanted to work with an organization that helped to foster those traits in young girls. During the next year I hope to improve my skills in evaluation and learn as much as I can about Girls Inc and the amazing women who work here.