The faculty and staff at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy aim to empower students to lead and innovate in their community in order to create lasting change in the world. Shanel Poole, a student of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, grew up in Indianapolis and is a prime example of how the school has prepared her for the real world.
To fully understand Shanel’s story, it’s worth taking a look back at the obstacles she encountered as a teenager. Her upbringing was tumultuous. She was a gifted student, but often bullied by her peers. Home life provided an additional set of challenges. At only 15 years of age, and after multiple encounters with the law, she found herself in the Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility. Only then did she realize if she didn’t turn around her life, she would become another statistic.
A chance encounter with leaders at Christamore House provided Shanel an opportunity to do just that. Her mentor helped her realize her goals, which consisted of three things: to get a GED, a job, and go to college. Through her quickly-growing network, she achieved her GED, and soon after was accepted to Ivy Tech and eventually Indiana State University.
While at ISU, Shanel felt a strong urge to give back to her community and to help other young women at risk of going down a similar path to her own. She created Guidance Life- Skills And Mentoring, or GLAM, which aims to provide young women of color the stability and mentorship that they need in order to become successful, contributing citizens in their communities.
Shanel was both shocked and delighted when 55 young women showed up to the very first GLAM callout meeting. She quickly found herself balancing full-time college coursework with a new, growing nonprofit organization. Administrators at ISU learned of her work – significantly, the void she was filling with limited resources. Together, Shanel and ISU leadership devised a plan to provide seed funding for GLAM.
Shanel had seen the power of networks in her life. She’d experienced the generosity of benefactors and knew her own desire to grow and scale GLAM. It was time to take the next step on her professional path with a graduate degree. The IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy was this step.
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hanel was immediately impressed with the curriculum offered, like Ethics & Values and Cross-Cultural Dimensions of Philanthropy. Likewise, Shanel made an impression on the school in her interview. Her advisor recognized the obstacles she had overcome to hone abilities and expertise, all while putting the skills to use immediately through GLAM.
Shanel feels that her time at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy has prepared her to expand the GLAM model, which she is very excited about.
“The School of Philanthropy created a foundation for me to take my organization to the next level,” she says. “I’m able to apply what I’ve learned directly to GLAM, which magnifies the validity of my organization.”
Shanel especially appreciated the flexible atmosphere and ability to adapt the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to her lifestyle.
“No matter your situation—working single-parent, full-time student, night school, etc.—they’ll find a way to make the program fit within your life,” she said.
The staff helped her find the right program and classes that matched her lifestyle and her goals. In the end, they truly helped her make a living pursuing her passion.
“Shanel exemplifies our passionate philanthropic studies students,” said Julie Scholl, manager of constituent relations at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. “She hasn’t had an easy road in life, yet she’s overcome many obstacles and is excelling in school and implementing her dream.”
Shanel would not be where she is today if not for her experiences in both undergraduate and graduate school and the support of Indianapolis’ thriving philanthropic community. She wants young kids to know that if they have it in their heart to improve the world, they can get out of the juvenile system and serve their community, all while enjoying the work that they do each day.
Shanel’s successes both personally and professionally have been amplified by her participation in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s graduate program.
“At the end of the day, GLAM makes me feel purposeful—I can wake up in the morning and truly feel like I am living a meaningful life.”
