Hi there! My name is Kennedy Weaver, and I am a Graduate Student at IUPUI, working in Community Development for Marion and Decatur County.

I am an active, optimistic, and passionate leader in my educational life, working as a Graduate Assistant for my department leaders; in my personal life, volunteering time and experience to women-led Impact 100 of Greater Indianapolis as an Education Focus Area Committee Scholarship Member of their grant review board; and in my professional life as a Community Development Director for Indianapolis-based non-profit Violence Free Living, Inc and Decatur County Tourism.

As a twenty-three-year-old, I find myself questioning how I became as involved and inspired as I am today. I wonder which experiences and individuals from my past contributed most to my character and interests. I think about how I spent almost every weekday in the gyms of Shelby County Girls Club. I think about every weekend I spend with my best friends and coaches competing in gymnastics meets around the state. I think about the afterschool programs that were a place of both comfort and inspiring, new challenges. I think about the massive network of strong, smart, and bold women that guided me the whole way here.

I have no “one” experience that Girls Inc. of America brought me, but I have my love for sports and education, my best friends from day one, my support and safety nets, and most importantly, I have a community that continues to inspire and challenge me through life.

For that, I thank Girls Inc. of Shelbyville and Shelby County.