The 1828 Project is one of our signature programs at IndyHub and each year it’s full of incredible leaders between the ages of 18 and 28. Jessie is a part of 1828’s Class VI. We sent her some questions. She responded. Keep reading to learn more about her!
How do you spend your days?
My days are filled working at Sun King Brewing in the Community Development department. We work with over 300+ non-profits in Indy to help connect the brewery to the city and try to play small part in helping these organizations make Indy be the best it can be. I also sit on various committees across the city including Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site’s Wicket World of Croquet, the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis’ Women Build, People for Urban Progress, the Junior League of Indianapolis, and most recently, IndyHub’s IndyVolved. I am guaranteed a weekly smile volunteering at Stephen Foster Elementary School through Art With a Heart. All are awesome events and organizations that you should check out!
Where are you originally from?
I am originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I first came to Indy to study Marketing and Strategic Communications at Butler University and have loved it ever since!
What’s your favorite Indy spot?
I love White River State Park because it provides my favorite view of our city and is a great green space full of options to be active. I always like to take out of town visitors there to show it off. I also love walking on the Monon from my apartment into Broad Ripple to spend the afternoon there…topped off by grabbing an ice cream cone at BRICS. Oh! And Hinkle Fieldhouse. (Go Dawgs!)
How do you typically travel around the city?
I travel mostly by car but have been loving using the Pacers Bikeshare when I am downtown!
If you could have coffee with anyone, living or not, who would it be and why? (Bonus points for which Indy coffee joint you’d take them to!)
Hmmm, not to get all personal, but I have always said my Opa (Grandfather in German). He grew up in WWII Germany and moved to America with my Oma after they got married. Unfortunately, he passed before I could meet him but WOW, talk about a life! I enjoy learning family history and he would definitely be one to learn from. I think I would take him to Calvin Fletcher’s because people always seem to be having genuine conversations there.
Thinking forward to the next 5 years here in Indy, what are you most excited for in regards to our city?
In the next five years I am most excited to see people starting (or continuing) to brag on Indy. It is a great place to live and I think people are starting to catch on and share the Indy story and pride.
If you won the lottery, what would you do with your winnings?
I would travel until I could travel no more! I think seeing the world is so important and helps people view situations they are put in through different lenses. I get the travel bug way too often and winning the lottery would certainly help cure that.
Would you rather visit the world 100 years in the past or 100 years in the future and why?
100 years in the past. I think it would be so fascinating to see everything that got us to where we are today play out in real time.
What is your favorite family tradition?
My favorite family tradition is cooking and indulging in our family recipe of cheese fondue at some point during the winter months each year. My grandpa crafted up this recipe and it is so delicious paired with bread, ham, and green apples for dipping. The annual event just happened over Christmas this year!
