Understanding context while still believing in growth and accountability Over time, I have come to believe that supporting people well requires more than addressing a single problem; it requires stepping back to see the whole picture. In my work with youth, I often shared a phrase with them: “Explanation is not justification.” Understanding the context behind someone’s actions helps us make sense of what is happening, but it does not remove accountability. Growth happens when

How New Shoe Day Is Building a Shoe Secure Indiana We were at one of our early shoe events, handing out brand-new pairs of athletic shoes to kids in the community. One young person sat down, opened the box, looked inside, and then looked up at us and said, "I've never gotten a pair of shoes in a box before." That sentence reframed everything. We were not just giving away shoes. We were stepping into a space where something as fundamental as a new pair of shoes in a box was a

Early in my career, I served as a Financial Empowerment & Community Development Officer, where much of my time was spent delivering financial education throughout the community. If there was a group willing to learn about money—whether in a classroom, a nonprofit program, a small business workshop, or a civic organization—I was usually there. At the beginning, I thought the work was mostly about teaching financial concepts: Credit scores, budgeting, saving, and understanding

We have all experienced the specific exhaustion of a "productive" day that somehow leaves us feeling hollow. You checked every box on your list. You responded to each message with lightning speed and performed the role of the ideal professional to perfection. You were exactly who everyone expected you to be. So why do you feel like a ghost by 6:00 PM? Why does a successful day leave you feeling like you have been drained from the inside out? Most of us treat our lives like a

Asian American Adoptees on Identity, Memory, and Belonging Adoption is not what people think it is. I feel like people want it to be simple so badly, like they need it to make sense in a clean, comforting way. A child is “saved,” placed into a better life, and grows up grateful. That’s the version that gets told, repeated, and accepted without much questioning. But that version leaves so much out. It ignores the parts that are harder to explain—the parts that don’t fit into s

When I made the decision to relocate to Indianapolis in the summer of 2021, I arrived with a mix of focused determination and an eager, open curiosity about what the city held for me. It was the quintessential fresh start. Much like countless others who arrive in a new landscape, my immediate, primary focus was directed toward establishing and building my professional career and, perhaps more abstractly, discovering where I truly fit within this new community. I threw myself

Day by day, I see the term “community” used in various ways; some loose, some more exacting, some a bit myopic, some a bit more intentional. At its most basic level, community is a group of people connected by shared place, identity, experience, or purpose. I imagine there was a time when community literally meant your neighborhood, your street, or your block, but in 2026, that isn’t the case. Even in these shared spaces and shared ideologies, there’s nuance. The monolithic n

Looking back now, I can say with certainty that I would not be here today, in the United States, pursuing an education and a dream, if not for my aunt. Her hands were roughened by work that should never have been hers. Her dreams of education were traded for a life of sacrifice. She shed her blood, sweat, and tears so my father could learn, so he could build a different future. He did just that, but unfortunately, not with her. My aunt was born five years before my father.

“Women who.” It sounds unfinished until you meet the women who complete the sentence. Women who open a door and widen it. Women who speak truth with tenderness, work with rigor, and make room for others as a matter of practice. In our cohort, I’m honored to witness five such leaders whose paths are distinct and whose impact overlaps: Christian Massey, Karen Lyles, Belinda Murray, Dr. Juaneka L. Thomas, and Alexis Watts. Each is a graduate of A Seat At The Table’s Undivided Co

Alone means having no one else present. Everyone has felt this feeling at least once in their life—starting a new school, moving out, or launching something brand new. That moment of discomfort, when you don’t know where to begin, is exactly why communities matter. When building community, the questions that you ask yourself are simple but profound: Who? What? Where? How? Networking can be one of the hardest things to do if you don’t know where to start. Create. Connect. C

Art is often described as a mirror, but for some artists, it functions as something more powerful. For Indianapolis-based photographer Jordan Connor Christie, the force of art lives in the act of embodiment. Through her work as Animal in a Dress, Jordan uses boudoir photography to help people step fully into themselves, reclaim their stories, and see their own beauty reflected in lasting images. Jordan did not set out to be a boudoir photographer. Her journey began with se

I am the embodiment of love, dedication, and hard work—a living testament to the powerful saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Hello, my name is Van Sui, and I am a rising sophomore at the IU Indianapolis Kelley School of Business. I am from Hlamphei, a small village hidden in the mountainous regions of Myanmar. Next month marks 19 years since my parents and I immigrated to the United States in search of religious freedom and a better future. Fortunately, we did

Hello! My name is Oyenmwosasere Ekhosuehi, and I am a rising sophomore at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington, where I double major in Marketing and Digital & Social Media Business Applications. Oyenmwosasere with Issue X! Like most freshmen, my first year of college was a completely new experience – I didn’t fully know how to prepare for it. As a first-generation college student, stepping onto campus and navigating a huge chapter was daunt

Hi! My name is Jaidyn Bills, and I am an incoming freshman at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. I was born and raised in Avon, IN, but am ready to find my own adventure and identity outside of my hometown. I will be majoring in Communications with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies. I hope to get a job in marketing management after I obtain my Bachelor’s degree. This past year, I did an internship during the first semester of my senior year, with the Commu

My name is Chi Nguyen, and I am an international student from Vietnam, currently a senior at DePauw University majoring in Studio Art.

My name is Xavier Cruz, and I’m a senior in high school, and I'm getting ready to go to college. I’ve been admitted to Purdue University For

This is my second semester with MORE as I serve as Lead Intern, and I am a junior at Indiana University Indianapolis, majoring in Marketing

Hello! My name is Alabhya Prasad, and I am a freshman at Indiana University Indianapolis’s Kelley School of Business, pursuing a double...

Sometimes going sober means that “one day at a time” is even too big to manage. Breaking it down to a few breaths, a few hours.

This summer, we are highlighting our four interns who decided to seek MORE this summer with us. We are getting to know them through their...