G L A M - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Executive Director
• Founder
• Executive Director and Founder of Guidance Life - Skills and Mentoring

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 350 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. 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.