At Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis, we take pride in seeing our alumnae grow and thrive as they pursue their goals. This summer, Dalioanna Jones, one of our outstanding Girls Inc. Indy alumnae participants, embarked on an exciting journey through a summer internship that allowed her to apply the skills and values she developed while with us. From building professional connections to facing new challenges, Dalioanna’s experience showcases the impact of mentorship and empowerment. We’re excited to share her reflections and insights as she takes us through her journey in her own words.

“My name is Dalioanna Jones, and I am in the Girls Inc. Alumnae program. I currently attend Ball State University studying communications to be a grant writer and project manager for local nonprofits. I have a huge passion for giving back to my community in any way possible and this year I have found that one the best ways is to be behind the scenes helping to plan out what impact will look like for the Girls Inc participants.

 As a Girls Inc. girly, I have always felt supported by at least one of my fellow sisters or a mentor. As I have grown through the program, from YWIL (Young Women In Leadership) to Alumnae member and even to an intern, I have experienced amazing growth in connections that will help me flourish in my later career.

When Girls Inc. was introduced to me, I was younger and didn’t fully understand the impact made until I was involved in high school. The YWIL program was introduced to KIPP Legacy High School, and initially, I was drawn to the breakaway time from class to breathe. However, as I sought deeper passions and important guidance, I realized the true value of the YWIL program. Much of the value was true sisterhood and feeling comfortable exploring who I want to be in my personal and professional life.

During my last week at YWIL, Michelle Henderson came to KIPP Indy Legacy High School to recruit for the new Alumnae Association. I felt very close to Ms. Kierra Hall, the High School Programs Manager, who encouraged me to participate. Ms. Hall’s consistent support and genuine character played a significant role in my decision to sign on the dotted line. She along with other wonderful Girls Inc. Indy staff reminded me that I could continue to receive support as I moved forward on my journey after high school. After my graduation, I was invited to attend the first alumnae mixer which was a “Graduation Shower.” When I arrived, I initially thought that it would look more like a long meeting but to my surprise it was interactive. We started with getting to know everyone then transitioned into a conversion about mindfulness and how important it is while we head into adulthood. One of the activities we had was mindfulness proactive through yoga. This session was led by a local instructor who intended to help us all get into inner peace. I found this to be a good skill to build since I have little experience in yoga. Afterward, we picked up the pace from inner peace to sharing joy with others at the mixer. I had a great time, and I even won a raffle for a take-home basket full of necessary school items. After the event, I became involved with the other Alumnae in the network. When I started college in the Fall, Kathleen Rusell reached out to me and continued my membership in the Alumnae program. I believe that the support from the alumnae program has helped guide me through my first year of college. Many of the Alumnae participants were from my university or other schools in Indiana, so I took the initiative to connect with them and seek advice. I have even developed a deeper friendship with two Ball State students, whom I would consider to be my sisters. These two students were Mariah and Madison. Mariah and I attended KIPP middle school together and lost touch after she moved schools. The alumnae graduation shower helped me to reconnect with Girls Inc. Indy and become a support system for each other while at Ball State. Madison also being an alumna, and a senior Ball State Student as well has helped give me and give me advice during the year. Outside of classes we would hang out for lunch and talk about how to build community on campus whether through student organizations or through events.

These experiences, among others, have led me to become more active with Girls Inc. Indy and its events. From participating in workshops to attending virtual events, my engagement has increased drastically. This past spring I began preparing for the summer to keep myself busy. Kathleen Russell reached out to me to gauge interest and informed me that Girls Inc. was piloting an internship program for college students. I was immediately excited, so I checked in with Ms. Russell monthly to check on the progress of the program.  When I was offered the internship in the marketing department, I was immediately overjoyed. Not only was I excited about the hands-on experience, but I was excited to work with Mrs. Henderson to learn more about nonprofit operations, community relations, marketing, and internal communications. Being at Girls Inc. Indy this summer has sharpened my skills to become a great grant writer and community relations project manager. I loved seeing events come together and witnessing the skeleton of the plan. Being a participant is amazing but being a part of the experience from a different angle is so much more empowering.  My experience with the internship has been life-changing. It has taught me more than just hard skills; it has also improved many of my soft skills, from communication to patience. Learning different aspects of operations was exciting, and there was never a dull moment.

My top three experiences of this internship have been the following:

Finding Keys
During the internship, I was partnered with another Eureka! marketing intern who is absolutely one of the smartest and most politically savvy 17-year-olds I have ever met. We were tasked with finding the correct key for GIGI’s closet to be able to lock and unlock it. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. I took one pile of keys, and she took the other, and we spent at least 30 minutes searching for the right key. We almost locked ourselves out of the closet at one point due to all the key chaos, but in the end, it was satisfying to find the only closest key. In that tedious moment, I came to appreciate the little things and details that go into running operations or even providing services. Sometimes these things are overlooked as daily tasks, but they are key—pun intended—to unlocking the full potential of an organization.

Finalizing GIGI’s Closet
Towards the end of the internship, our major project was finally completed. Michelle Henderson had implemented the “Gigi Closet”, a space for the participants that would offer clothing items that were donated by community partners. When Gigi’s closet was complete it was fully stocked, organized, and staged. The closet is for the participants who are of need of new clothing whether it be professional or casual. Girls Inc. has also implemented a shopping style experience by including the use of “Gigi Bucks” where participants can earn “bucks” to pick out multiple items. It excites me to see it come together after working so hard on it throughout the weeks. I will say being one of the first to have access to the closet was like hitting a gold mine because the items we stocked were so fashionable. My favorite piece is this long pink dress with spaghetti straps that I can pair with any tee. Having Mrs. Henderson as a stylist also makes the experience so much more special. I can’t wait to see the participants experience Gigi’s closet. 

Teen Works Resource Fair at Phalen Academy
Last but not least, one of the most empowering moments of this internship was participating in the Phalen Academy tabling event. Mrs. Henderson and I talked to countless interested students who interacted with us, making friendship pins and sharing their many passions. This event solidified what I want to do in the future and reminded me of the core reason organizations like Girls Inc. Indy exist. It’s not just about strong, smart, and bold girls, but about creating strong, smart, and bold change in the world. It was great practice for me for when I have a similar position to Michelle in the future and I am forever grateful for it.

This experience from beginning to end has been satisfying, empowering, and even hilarious experience. The Girls Inc. Indy internship has taught me so many transferable skills that will stick with me. I can say as a participant and intern Girls Inc. truly lives by its mission, Creating strong, smart, and bold girls and a truly better society. Next on the journey for me is a study abroad trip to Puebla and gaining more experience to become “nonprofit ready”.  This non-profit, like no other, has shaped me into a more patient person. Outside Of academics and professional skills, there has been a glow up about me since being a part of Girls Inc.’s internship program. My organizational skills have improved, my communication has improved but most of all the love I have for generating positive change has also increased drastically. Now living strong, smart, and bold is always going to be my personal goal, even a part of my personal brand. While living by these key values I know that I can achieve the career and personal lifestyle I choose to seek. Thanks to the connections I made, and the gifts received, I have been incredibly grateful to have Girls Inc. in my life. Thank you GIGI!”

With love & kindness,

-Dalioanna Jones

Thank you Dalioanna for sharing your experience with us. We at Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis (GIGI) thank you for demonstrating what it looks like to be strong, smart, and bold.  We look forward to your continued success!