“I’m proud to have a small role in supporting the arts in Indiana through funding groups focused on better representation and inclusion.”
What did the scholarship allow you to do that you otherwise wouldn’t have done?
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship opened a door to a lifetime of opportunities:
What are you most proud of?
I grew up around nonprofit leaders, educators, and community activists who all embodied a commitment to service and civic engagement.
I’m most proud of the ongoing efforts of Hoosiers like them pushing for a more welcoming and supportive Indiana for everyone.
What makes you proud to be a Hoosier?
Southern Indiana’s forests are homebase for me. The maintenance and restoration of these wooded areas along with Indiana’s waterways, lakes, and northern prairies make me proud to be a Hoosier.
What’s a change you’d like to see in your community/our state?
I would like to see more face-to-face communication with a focus on building relationships and strengthening communities.
More face. Less phone.
What’s something you’ve created recently?
I’m currently working on an easy-to-use resource to help aspiring small business owners quickly vet their ideas through:
You can lose a lot of time and money pursuing business ideas that have a low probability of working out.
I want to help people avoid that while supporting communities through the power of local business.
Share an example of a time you stepped out of your comfort zone or did something that surprised you.
I’ve struggled with public speaking for most of my life. Like many people, I get nervous when the “light” is shining on me.
In order to be the face of a small business, I had to step into that light.
It took a few years to embrace my natural introversion, to consciously store my energy, and then use it to teach and speak confidently.
The trick for me was reminding myself regularly to focus on the other person. To do this, I’d ask a few questions internally:
The result was clearer communication and stronger relationships.
What’s one way you’ve been able to give back to your community?
I was asked to serve on the Brown County Community Foundation’s grants committee in early 2023. This is my third grant cycle.
It has been an opportunity to sit down with a multi-generational group that cares deeply about the future of Brown County.
Through grantmaking, we support local nonprofits in these areas:
If you could do anything to help your community, what would it be?
First, I would encourage our governing bodies to enact strict limitations on short-term rentals. Outside investors continue to reduce the housing stock for working families in favor of short-term profits.
Second, I would work toward increasing funding for the Brown County Redevelopment Commission and Brown County Habitat for Humanity. There are many houses in the county that, with some repairs, could be livable for working families.
These organizations and others do tremendous work every year, but they can’t address the housing shortfall without other levers being pulled.
What’s one community organization you’re proud to be a part of?
I’ve had the privilege to serve as a grants panelist for the Indiana Arts Commission for a number of years.
I’m proud to have a small role in supporting the arts in Indiana through funding groups focused on better representation and inclusion.
What motivates you?
I’m motivated by an internal fire to challenge power structures that don’t serve absolutely everyone.
What has been your favorite LSN experience?
My time with the Lilly Scholars Academy has been eye-opening.
My initial goal was to meet and get to know other scholars as we learned from diverse leaders.
Five sessions later, it has been life-changing to have access to nonprofit, civic, and business leaders around the state.
The greatest impact has been from simply seeing the people at high levels in our communities who are working as hard as they can to improve Hoosier lives.
The headwinds are often strong, but these leaders continue to push and find ways to make positive, progressive change.
