The 1828 Project is one of our signature programs at IndyHub and each year it’s full of incredible leaders between the ages of 18 and 28. Kateri is a part of 1828’s Class VII. We sent her some questions. She responded. Keep reading to learn more about Kateri!
How do you spend your days?
I am the Director of Marketing & Alumni Relations at Providence Cristo Rey High School. We are a Catholic, college-preparatory high school that exclusively serves low-income students. All of our students go to work one day each week for one of our 90+ Corporate Work Study Partners, which include Eli Lilly, Salesforce, Ice Miller, and Eskenazi Health. They earn about 1/3 of their tuition from this program, and will gain at least 1,000 hours of professional work experience during their high school career. A few of our alumni have even gone back to work for their work study partner after college graduation. There are 32 other Cristo Rey Network schools across the country – this model works!
My job is to promote our mission and student success, as well as maintain relationships with our alumni. A day in my work life could consist of storyboarding our next video, writing an article for our website, designing a new ad, and going to a school event to take photos for our social media accounts. Watching our students grow into confident college students and young professionals has been incredibly rewarding and inspiring for me.
Where are you originally from?
I grew up in San Antonio, Texas. Go Spurs!
So, what made you lay your roots here in Indianapolis?
I moved here for a one-year AmeriCorps VISTA position with Providence Cristo Rey in 2011, and honestly thought I’d only be here for a year. The plan was to move somewhere “cooler” after my service year was finished. Indy won me over for a few reasons: affordability, friendliness, food, and the Cultural Trail.
I could afford to live close to Mass Ave on an entry-level, nonprofit salary. People that were doing interesting, creative things in the city were accessible and willing to talk. The affordable apartment meant I could eat at all of the new, local restaurants opening up. I moved to the Mass Ave area right as the Cultural Trail was being completed and started it using it almost daily. Seeing the huge support Indy put behind it made me feel like this was the kind city that wanted to move forward in ways that benefitted citizens from all walks of life.
If you had to choose one mode of transportation to get around our city, which would you choose and why?
I would choose to live downtown and walk to as many places as possible. When you walk you can check out gardens, meet your neighbors, or stop into a new shop that just opened up. Plus, it’s healthier for you than driving everywhere. And, if it is too cold or rainy, there is always IndyGo!
Which local coffee joint is your favorite? What’s your go-to order?
Hands down Coat Check Coffee. Nothing beats their Spice Latte and homemade croissants.
What are you most excited for with 1828, or who has been your favorite speaker thus far?
All of the speakers so far have been wonderful and have given me some new insight into our city and its future. Our most recent one, Lauren Day from IndyGo, really struck a chord with me. I didn’t own a car for the first four years of living here, so I am familiar with the benefits and struggles of public transit in Indy. Hearing her talk about all of the behind the scenes work that was done to get the referendum and tax passed in 2016 was eye-opening. Because of her talk, I now have a goal of going to at least one city council meeting in 2018.
What are you most excited about when thinking about the future of our city?
Our city’s neighborhoods and active community leaders. I live in Little Flower on the east side, and we are small, but mighty! There is so much power in someone caring about an issue and organizing around it.
If you could make one rule that everyone on earth had to follow, what would it be?
Eat less meat. It makes the planet healthier!
Are you reading anything interesting right now, if so what?
I am reading Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. Read it if you like historical fiction, a story that spans several generations, and complex female characters.
What’s your dream adventure vacation?
Somewhere that would let me stay in a big city and eat a lot of food and then work it off by hiking at a nearby national park.
