Mere weeks before fall programs swung into motion, Girls Inc. welcomed our new Public Ally, Christen Petersen. As one of the 18 Public Allies in Indianapolis, Christen joined Girls Inc. in September and will serve greater Indianapolis girls until June 2011. Learn more about Public Allies, Christen, and her excitement to be at Girls Inc. below!

What is the Public Ally program?
“The Public Ally program is a national AmeriCorps program that is run through the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center. Allies are a part of a national movement grounded in the idea that everyone leads. This year, there are 18 Allies and we will be serving our community for 10 months at 16 different non-profits in Indianapolis. In addition to serving non-profit organizations, we will also be receiving leadership training once a week and participating in a team service project in an Indy community.  I will be serving the Irvington community with my team and we will be assisting the Irvington Development organization.”
 
How will you serve the community at Girls Inc.?
“As a Public Ally at Girls Inc., my primary responsibilities are to facilitate programs for girls between the ages of 6 and 14 and to help support the program department.”

What about Girls Inc.’s mission appealed to you?
“The whole mission appeals to me! Inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold embodies everything that I think young girls need today. I remember being a young girl trying to deal with friends, boys and becoming a young woman and feeling so alone and confused.  It is great that girls in the greater Indianapolis area get a chance to let their voices be heard and talk about these things in a safe, friendly environment.  I am really excited to be a part of helping these girls grow and hopefully I will learn something from them in the process!”

Tell us a bit more about life before becoming a Public Ally.
"I am currently completing my senior year at IUPUI where I am majoring in International Studies and minoring in Spanish.  Before becoming a Public Ally, I was the Assistant Manager at a before and after school program for the arts in Brownsburg, IN and I had just returned from studying abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico where I studied Spanish and taught English to kids ages 4-14."