Kelsey Becomes an Advocate in Her Community

Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell alumna Kelsey spent 11 years at Girls Inc. taking advantage of programming that allowed her to discover her passions for civic engagement and public policy.  She also worked as a Program Specialist and sat on the board last year.  Today, Kelsey works as a Policy Analyst for the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight for the Massachusetts State Legislature. She is also an advocate for LGBTQ rights, a member of YW Boston’s Advocacy committee which focuses on paid family leave and criminal justice reform, and involved in protecting young people in Boston’s School to Prison Intervention Pipeline program.

Kelsey is forever grateful for the confidence that Girls Inc. staff members, and fellow girls, helped her to develop. She learned how to believe in herself, and used that power to become an advocate and community organizer. Through the Alumnae Scholarship program Kelsey was able to study in Washington D.C. for a summer and intern with Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. There, she cultivated her passion for helping others and learned more about civic engagement, public policy, and government relations.

As a young woman working in politics, Kelsey’s time at Girls Inc. continues to inspire her and push her forward. To this day, she relies on her Girls Inc. family for continued support, encouragement, and guidance. In the future, she hopes to head an advocacy organization similar to Girls Inc. and provide more people with the same gifts she received as a young girl.

Kelsey recognizes that girls continue to face great challenges but believes mentorship and community spaces, like the one she experienced at Girls Inc., are two important steps in combatting systematic oppression and inequality. Her advice is to never be afraid to ask for help, and to hold tight to people that love and inspire you. When you do that, she says, there is no way you will not succeed.

“Girls Inc. taught me to believe in myself… the community has always supported and believed in me. Through Girls Inc. staff and leadership sharing their resources with me I was able to thrive as a young girl and now as a young woman.”

Are you a Girls Inc. alumna? Share how Girls Inc. impacted your life and shaped who you are today on the Alumnae Group Facebook page or via email. Tell us about your latest accomplishments and how you are inspiring other girls.