ABOUT
OUR FOUNDER
Shanel Poole, Founder & Executive Director
Shanel Poole is the Executive Director and Founder of Guidance Life-skills And Mentoring (G.L.A.M. Inc.) Ms. Poole overcame a challenging upbringing which caused her to be expelled from the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) at age 12 and homeless at age 18. With fierce determination she obtained her G.E.D. Despite not being enrolled in formal education for over 8 years she was accepted to Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree and was selected to be the 2010 commencement speaker. It was during her college years, that Ms. Poole returned regularly to Indianapolis to do God’s work by helping young girls and teenagers avoid the pitfalls and missteps that she had experienced. This is how GLAM was born. In existence for over ten years, GLAM has assisted over 1,000 girls. Through programming that focuses on self-esteem, education, professional development and healthy choices, GLAM has helped at-risk girls who normally have only a 35% probability of graduating from high school, graduate at a rate of 97%. GLAM also has girls who could not imagine graduating from high school, who are now college graduates. Her successful program and curriculum has been utilized by IPS, the school system that expelled her. Through GLAM, IPS students lowered their disruptive behavior and were able to contribute positively to their classroom experience.
In addition to improving the Indianapolis community by improving the lives of some of its most vulnerable female residents, Ms. Poole has also established partnerships with area businesses, philanthropic organizations and other non-profits. She is a frequently requested inspirational and motivational speaker. Her contributions have been recognized through the receipt of numerous awards and citations including, but not limited to Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Courage Award, The Indiana Commission for Women’s Torchbearer Award, and the State of Indiana Martin Luther King Jr. Day Freedom Award.
OUR MISSION
G.L.A.M. empowers 9-18 year old girls who are at risk for juvenile delinquency, academic failure, teen pregnancy and abuse to discover and fulfill their potential as independent and productive young women.
OUR VISION
To help young women develop self-esteem and positive lifestyles through peer education, expert instruction, group facilitation, mentoring, and positive role modeling.
Our Story
G.L.A.M. Inc., began with support and seed money from the Indiana State University Foundation. It is now a 501©3 entity. G.L.A.M. is staffed by a full-time Executive Director/Program Manager assisted by 5-7 interns, volunteer program managers and administrators. The organization currently has a small, but active, Board of Directors.
Shanel Poole, the executive director, started the agency while an undergraduate student at Indiana State University. Poole experienced abuse and homelessness throughout her teen years; however she was able to overcome these same issues that many of her program participants struggle with as young women today.
The agency has experienced significant growth since 2008. Until recently, G.L.A.M. operated in the Penn Arts Building. It will now meet at 120 E. Market St, Suite 1020 Indpls, IN 46202 G.L.A.M has increased the number of females served every year since its establishment and now serves more than 100 at-risk young women each year.
G.L.A.M. seeks to serve young women in a safe and nurturing setting where they can feel comfortable sharing and learning intimate characteristics about themselves while pursuing opportunities available through education and positive life choices. G.L.A.M. provides an outlet to at-risk young women, who would otherwise lack an environment that provides the resources needed to reposition them away from the destructive pathways they have continuously traveled down.
The agency’s curriculum is grounded in a realistic understanding of the issues its girls face and the programming is designed around first-hand experience with these issues. This creates a culture of authenticity that is a defining characteristic of G.L.A.M.'s staff and volunteers. This authenticity contributes to G.L.A.M.'s 90 percent retention rate.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Guidance Life-Skills And Mentoring (G.L.A.M.) believes that at-risk young women should be empowered with the tools that will enable them to live responsible and productive lives. Through effective, comprehensive, innovative, and empowering programming, GLAM improves the lives of young women who can then improve our community. G.L.A.M. is requesting program funding to support its programs which are dedicated solely to empowering 9-18 year old females who, because of their current environment or academic deficiencies, are at risk for juvenile delinquency, academic failure, teen pregnancy or abuse. The programming assists the participants in discovering and fulfilling their potential as independent and productive young women
Through programming and mentoring (G.L.A.M.) develops self-esteem. Fostering positive self-esteem is broadly recognized in the educational community as one of the most effective ways to reduce the effect of the myriad of challenges faced by at-risk young women. G.L.A.M. prides itself on being not only a self-esteem educational organization, but also a place where young ladies can feel safe and valued. Most importantly, all young women receive trust, respect and confidentiality.
G.L.A.M. instills a sense of self-worth, commitment, responsibility, and hope for the future through a caring and inclusive learning environment. This helps the young women become better students, better employees and better citizens. These unique services are all provided free of charge; therefore, in order to empower the girls of G.L.A.M., financial support is needed.
OUR PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
