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. Zachary is a part of 1828’s Class VII. We sent him some questions and he responded. Keep reading to learn more about Zachary!
How do you spend your days?
Development Manager for The Damien Center; I manage and cultivate donor relations for Indiana’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization. This includes managing Damien’s annual fund, assisting with special events (Grand Masquerade and Dining Out for Life), and managing the donor database.
Where are you originally from?
Muncie, Indiana
What made you lay your roots here in Indianapolis?
I call Indianapolis “urban residential,” because I love the access to cultural events, music, and food that can be found in urban settings, but also love the fact that I have a backyard that I can run my dogs around in, which is more typical of a suburban setting. My family lives in Indiana, so it’s nice to be close by but settle in a premier American city.
It’s the weekend. What are your plans?
I love going to see concerts, exploring new local eats/drinks, or going on a road trip in-state or out-of-state. If I’m not spending time out with family or friends, I’m watching Netflix with my two dogs, Zeus and Zephyr.
When thinking about the future of our city, what are you looking forward to the most and why?
The thing that excites me most about Indy is all of the opportunity that lies here. Indy is rapidly developing, emerging and evolving as a community in which people want to work, live, and play. As the development continues for all residents, I am confident that Indy’s local nonprofits will continue to serve and improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable Hoosiers in the state.
Quick- you can only eat at one local spot for the rest of your life. Where ya going and what’s your go-to item on the menu?
This is such a hard question because there are so many amazing restaurants in Indy! If I had to pick only one, I’d choose a local Little Flower favorite called Steer-In. They serve breakfast all day and have a huge menu to choose from–and you won’t spend more than $20 each visit!
What’s a local Indy cause that is near and dear to your heart and how might people go about learning more or getting involved?
I’d be remiss to not tell people to support The Damien Center! Damien is the largest HIV/AIDS service organization in the state. With more than 12,000 Hoosiers living with HIV/AIDS, Damien plays a critical role of providing and connecting folks to care.
Another really awesome organization to support is SOAR Initiative (Street Outreach Animal Response). It’s practically a one-woman organization that connects individuals who are experiencing homelessness or housing crisis and their pets to services, housing, and care. Indianapolis is actually at the forefront of how we approach homelessness and animal care and that is due in large part to Angela and SOAR!
It’s 2030: where are you and what are you doing? (Personally, professionally, etc)
Come 2030, I hope to become the executive director of a nonprofit (or well on my way there). I would love to revisit my roots in the Arts and combine it with working in human services; if I had my dream job, I would run a theatre company for vulnerable youth (at-risk, LGBTQ+, foster care, etc.) that would double as a creative outlet in addition to connecting youth to higher education and work vocation programs.
What book has impacted you the most to date?
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is still my number one favorite piece of literature. I’ve been in theatre for most of my life and studied it in school; I would argue that A Raisin in the Sun is the most game-changing piece of American theatre. It explores racism, women’s health and rights, classism–all while deconstructing the American Dream. Good stuff!
Did you go on a vacation this year? If so, where and what did you do?
I spent Labor Day Weekend spending time with my family on Patoka Lake in southern Indiana. It was a total lazy vacation that involved lots of board games and boating on the lake. I’m gearing up for my next big international sojourn; hopefully I can venture out in 2019!
