As a Purdue Stamps Leadership Scholar and Biological Engineering graduate (2019), Lauren Li Primer has served for two years as a Frontline Manufacturing Rep and Laboratory Scientist for Insulin Manufacturing at Eli Lilly. Having studied and volunteered abroad in four countries (Ecuador, France, Denmark, China) using four different languages (Spanish, French, English/Danish, Mandarin) in four years at Purdue, she continues cross-cultural endeavors through the Asian American Alliance, Inc. of Indianapolis and the Lilly Chinese Culture Network. From Emcee’ing Lunar New Year Gala and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month events, to publishing a 2021 Heritage Month Cookbook as Editor and Photographer, with 40 recipes and family stories from 10 different countries, Lauren enjoys capturing and sharing the beauty of culture through public speaking, creativity, and cuisine. Her dream is to combine engineering with business, art, and international affairs to achieve a harmony of left and right-brain thinking and foster positive change.
The 1828 Leadership Project, presented by Citizens Energy Group, is a civic leadership tract for Indy’s young leaders with the goal of fostering intentional relationships with a cross-sector of Indianapolis’ thought leaders and decision makers. Lauren is a part of 1828’s Class XI . Learn more about her below.
How do you spend your days? For example, you can tell us about your career, side hustle or exercise routine whatever you want to share. We’re ready to listen.
365 days of the year, I run outside to adventure through new parts of the city, admiring architecture, finding inspiration for my own garden, and enjoying peace in nature. In Summer, I live for farmers markets, art festivals, state fairs, painting art, bird watching in the garden, road tripping through the South, camping and fishing, and beach-ing with my English Spring Spaniel puppy. In Fall, I bake with apples I freshly picked from the orchard, eat pasta at Italian Feast festivals in tribute to my Dad’s Italian heritage, visit Newfields Art Museum, run the Purdue Half Marathon, and spend quality time with friends in Chicago. In Winter, I roast s’mores in the fireplace while listening to music, watch a good James Bond movie with my parents, read books like “The Daily Coyote” as the snow falls, and of course, look forward to holiday reunions with extended family and good food. In Spring, I get outside right as the weather warms to soak up the sun and nature’s rejuvenation, eat moon cakes during the Spring Festival for Asian Lunar New Year and eat pączki doughnuts on Fat Tuesday to celebrate my Mom’s Polish heritage. If it was up to me, I would travel, eat, and run for a living but in the meantime, I always make the most of any city I am living in.
You’re off the clock, there are no expectations. What are you doing?
It’s post-pandemic and I am hosting a summer garden party reunion for family and friends somewhere with candles, wildflowers, and farm-to-table cuisine in a Scandinavian forest wonderland.
When thinking about the future of Indianapolis, what are you most looking forward to in the next 5 years and why?
The possibilities for cross-cultural growth and appreciation via: ethnic neighborhood development, restaurant, holiday event, cultural festival, historical society, and community gathering capacities to learn from one another, diversify and include.
Are there any local causes that you support? What are they and how might others learn more or get involved?
Support the Asian American Alliance, Inc. (ie: supported AAA President, Rupal Thanawala, who received the Rosa Parks Trailblazer Award at the 2019 15th Annual Champions of Diversity Gala at the Marriott, united together as an organization for a Lunar New Year 2019 banquet). Engage with STEM Outreach (ie: Lilly and other companies hosted a STEM outreach event in 2019 on the concourse of the Pacers Stadium, presented virtually to George Washington High School students on my Purdue-to-Eli Lilly engineering education and career experience so they may consider a future in STEM). For Lilly Global Day of Service 2019, volunteered to help host a Special Olympics Bocce Ball Tournament at the Track and Field at Lilly’s Corporate Center. For social and entertainment causes: I enjoy running daily on the beautiful Indy Cultural Trail, I regularly go to summer Farmers Markets, the State Fair, and Newfields Art Museum, I love being a resident at CityWay apartment complex, which was one of many community organizations that helped sponsor the recent June 2019 “Indy Ultimate” 6 Miler tour-of-Indy attractions race that ended at the Colts Stadium field! Also thoroughly enjoyed a free walking tour of the Italian Holy Rosary neighborhood of Indianapolis with a tour of the Bocce Ball courts in the local park across from the Church, a behind-the-scenes tour of Amelia’s Bakery, and a dinner at Iaria’s restaurant – all hosted one evening in Fall 2019 sponsored by the Italian Heritage Society of Indiana – one of my favorite initial cultural memories/impressions in Indy!
You have a day off and you’re in Indianapolis. Share the agenda for your perfect Indy day.
First I’d run to Fountain Square for lattes at Bovaconti. Then, I’d have breakfast at Yolk and visit the Broad Ripple Farmers Market. Next I would spend time exploring the Sunken Gardens at Garfield Park Conservatory. Then I’d have lunch out on the patio at Livery or Nada followed by dessert from Circles Ice Cream.To end the night I would visit NewField’s Art Museum and Gardens and then grab a drink from the Coca Cola Bottleworks District Food Hall or from Taxman.
Indianapolis is a sprawling county, what’s your favorite part about our city?
The food, the sports, the people, the warm weather for many outdoors activities and fests.
If you were a superhero what would be your special trait?
To travel in the blink of an eye – love different cultures and their languages, cuisine, attractions, cities, quaint towns, nature and lifestyle too much.
If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Always this Late by Odesza
What would you name the autobiography of your life?
Lauren Li, I run so I can eat.
How do you define success?
Never settling, being happy and making others happier
