Community Link: Girl Talk Inc. INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Each week on Community Link, Carolene Mays takes a look at an organization or business that is making a positive impact on the community. This week, Mays was joined by Sonya Cooke, founder and executive director of Girl Talk Inc. He lping young girls ages 10 to 18 find their voice, build confidence, and step into their potential, Girl Talk Incorporated equips them with the support and life skills to achieve their goals, and grow into future leaders. Founded in 2016, Girl Talk has since served over 500 girls. Cooke says she drew inspiration for Girl Talk through her own teen challenges. “Our goal is to ensure girls have support, someone to hold them accountable, and opportunities to grow into future leaders,” she said. Girl Talk’s flagship offering is its Signature 8-Week Empowerment Program, which covers topics such as self-acceptance, conflict resolution, and financial literacy. The nonprofit also provides one-on-one and group mentoring, free after-school tutoring with transportation, and the Empower Her Academy for high school girls. The academy teaches life skills, etiquette, civics, and business fundamentals. Each participant completes a business plan or capstone project and receives a scholarship and a laptop to support their professional development. “They learn college and trade careers are both possibilities,” she said. “They see they can be engineers, STEM professionals, or entrepreneurs with the support and accountability our programs provide.” Cooke further elaborated on how Girl Talk supports single moms, having recognized that a girl’s home environment influences her progress. Their Thrive Project and quarterly Mother Supporting Mothers workshops strive to help create those positive ecosystems to help both mother and child thrive. Girl Talk will be celebrating a decade of service with a public community celebration on June 12 at the Ritz Charles in Carmel, 12156 N. Meridian St. Tickets are available on Girl Talk’s website here. ...read more read less