Public Allies

Advancing Diverse Leadership

Public Allies Indianapolis is a partnership between INRC and Public Allies, a national movement grounded in the conviction that “Everyone leads.” Public Allies believes that everyone has leadership potential and assets to contribute towards making a difference in their community. INRC’s focus on developing leaders from within the Indianapolis community makes Public Allies an ideal partner for INRC. To solve our communities most pressing challenges, more residents need to be engaged, skilled, and prepared to lead. 

Public Allies’ founders, Vanessa Kirsch and Katrina Browne, recognized that there were many energetic, talented young people who wanted to address critical issues in their communities, and many organizations and communities who could benefit from their contributions. With help from volunteers, Kirsch and Browne created Public Allies to recruit, train, and support diverse young leaders preparing them for community leadership on pressing public issues. In 1992, Public Allies launched its first apprenticeship program. This unique approach has led Public Allies to grow nationally – there are now 24 Public Allies sites. Public Allies’ asset-based approach to leadership has created pathways for young people to engage in their communities, and has helped communities and organizations tap the energy, passion, and perspectives of a new generation. 

Since 2009, Public Allies Indianapolis has developed young leaders to make a difference in Indianapolis neighborhoods. Our young leaders, Allies, are diverse and passionate social change makers who support community projects in partnership with local nonprofit organizations. Public Allies Indianapolis has developed 150 young leaders who have contributed 204,000 hours of service to Indianapolis-based nonprofits. Their service hours have lead to the creation, expansion, and improvement of vital community services.

Public Allies Indianapolis focuses on the following areas:

Strengthen communities.

We directly impact issues such as youth development, community development, public health, civic participation, and economic development in our community.

Strengthen nonprofits.

We build the capacity of local nonprofit organizations by creating, improving, and expanding services offered, bringing new resources and relationships to the organizations and training the next generation of future nonprofit leaders.

Strengthen civic participation.

We catalyze community involvement on important issues and create a network of resourceful, collaborative leaders who continue to strengthen their communities, work for social change, and engage the participation of others for years to come.