Education and the support of a nonprofit gave Shanel Poole, MA’ 17, the tools to overcome the challenges in her life. Grateful for the support she received during hard times, Poole founded her own nonprofit to give back to others in her community. She is the founder and executive director of G.L.A.M., Inc. (Guidance, Life Skills, and Mentoring), which was established in 2008 to empower young women to grow, learn, lead, and live powerful and productive lives. G.L.A.M. serves at-risk girls ages 9 to 18, helping them exceed everyday limitations and reach their highest potential.
Poole understands firsthand the power of support. At age 18, she was homeless and coming off parole when Christamore House—a nonprofit in Indianapolis offering child and youth educational services, senior programs, and life skills training—stepped in to help. Her teenage years were turbulent. She dropped out of school at age 12, entered juvenile prison by 15, and faced homelessness just a few years later. “I excelled academically and was in a middle school magnet program doing well, but I was struggling with adverse childhood experiences,” Poole recalled. Growing up in a household with a father who battled alcoholism made her journey especially difficult. Looking back, she wishes she’d had a mentoring program like G.L.A.M. to guide her.
With the support of Christamore House, Poole earned her GED and enrolled at Ivy Tech. Later, a mentor helped her gain admission to Indiana State University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree. Inspired by what Christamore House had done for her, Poole felt a deep calling to give back—so she didn’t wait to earn her degree before launching G.L.A.M. “It was important to me to hold on to those roots and carry the nonprofit with me throughout my journey,” she said.
Poole’s connection to the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy began after she presented about G.L.A.M. and met Professor Tyrone McKinley Freeman. During their conversation, she expressed her desire to grow the organization, and Freeman asked if she’d ever considered the Lilly School. She instantly knew it was where she wanted to pursue her master’s degree.
“I have a servant’s heart, and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy gave me the validation and confirmation I needed to continue pursuing my passion for serving others,” Poole said. “It expanded my knowledge and empowered me to build a social enterprise while nurturing my commitment to making a meaningful impact in the community.”
In addition to her work with G.L.A.M., Poole has made significant contributions to public health through her involvement with the nonprofit Resolve to Save Lives, where she has been certified as a Pro Global Project Manager. This role has further enriched her expertise, enabling her to implement effective strategies for health improvement and community empowerment on a broader scale.
Poole’s work has also expanded to include G.R.O.O.M. (Gentlemans, Resources, Outreach & Mentoring), a program dedicated to supporting young men. The organization’s growth continues with a capital campaign underway for the G.L.A.M. Legacy Center in Indianapolis and a vision to take the G.L.A.M. curriculum nationwide.
Currently, Poole is pursuing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy at Judson University.
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