This week, Girls Inc. staff saw only a blur of our program support coordinators, Jessica and Sarah. During the first week of programs, the pair traveled all over greater Indianapolis visiting partner sites and supporting volunteers in their first program. From program initiation to completion, Jessica and Sarah build relationships with our partners and support volunteers and staff delivering programs. And this winter, the process begins all over again for the next program cycle!

Get to know the women who coordinate our strong, smart, and bold programs:

Sarah Hughes (left)

What areas of greater Indianapolis do you serve? I work with programs in East 10th Street, East 38th Street, and Southeast Indianapolis.

How long have you been at Girls Inc.? I started October 2009 as a Public Ally for Girls Inc., where I was able to learn more about Girls Inc. as a nonprofit organization and about the girls as I delivered programs. Since August of 2010, I have worked at Girls Inc. in my present role as a Program Support Coordinator.

What drew you to Girls Inc.? I was initially drawn to Girls Inc. because this organization enabled me to combine my passion for women’s rights and community development by inspiring local, Indianapolis girls. That passion continues based on the comments of the girls and their excitement about our programs – I know our staff, volunteers and all involved can make a difference for our Indianapolis girls and young women.

Favorite Girls Inc. moment: One of the not so glamorous jobs Girls Inc. staff must do is go through all the Girl feedback forms, where they tell us things they liked about the program and things they would change. We make tallies if it is a positive or negative remark, in addition to a few other items, in order to track changes and obtain a glimpse of the entire cycle of programs. After a few hundred completed with a few hundred still to go, I found one anonymous girls’ response that made my day. In fact, I even made a copy of it for motivation as it stays on my desk.
She wrote, for the question, tell us one thing you would change, “The world.”
Me, too, girl; me, too. I’m trying!

Jessica Morris (right)

What areas of greater Indianapolis do you serve? I work with programs in Eagledale, Lawrence Township, Meridian Kessler/Martindale Brightwood, Warren Township, and Washington Township.

How long have you been at Girls Inc.? I’ve been at Girls Inc. since June 2008, when I started as a Summer Program Specialist at our 8-week summer camp. Then, after camp ended, I was hired as a part-time Program Specialist. I continued in that role until I was promoted to Program Support Coordinator in December 2009.

What drew you to Girls Inc.? I’ve always been passionate about women’s rights, and I was really inspired by the mission of Girls Inc.; I believed helping girls become strong, smart, and bold was a great way to create strong, smart, and bold women. I did 9 months of AmeriCorps service at the Girls Inc. of Johnson County in Franklin, IN during my senior year of college, and when I graduated, I was eager to continue with such a great organization.

Favorite Girls Inc. moment: It’s really hard to narrow it down to just one. I know that all of my favorite Girls Inc. moments have been when I’m interacting with our girls. I think my favorite moments were at Camp GEMS this past summer; we had such a great group of girls, combined with an awesome staff. I loved every moment; it was so inspiring to see how eager the girls were to learn and how much they absorbed throughout the duration of camp. It was a fantastic experience, especially because it was my first time being in charge of a camp.