Hoosier Girl Coalition Hires Inaugural Executive Director

The Hoosier Girl Coalition has announced the appointment of Mackenzie Pickerrell to serve as its inaugural executive director. In this role, Pickerrell will lead the Hoosier Girl Coalition to reach and serve girls across Indiana in bold new wa

In an unprecedented collaboration, six independent Girl Scout councils that serve the state of Indiana have come together to form the Hoosier Girl Coalition to meet the emerging needs of Indiana girls. As one of the six, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana serves Indiana girls in Lake, Porter, Newton, and Jasper counties, as well as 10 counties in Illinois.

The vision of the Coalition is to enable every Hoosier girl to live her best life physically, academically, socially, and emotionally. Pickerrell and her team at the Coalition will collaborate with all six councils to invite key stakeholders in communities from across the state to rally around what girls say they need.

“Elevating the needs of girls as a state-wide imperative is a game-changer,” said Nancy Wright, CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. “For 111 years, Girl Scouts has championed girls, but we know that not all girls have had equitable access to experiences that build positive well-being. Our innovative work with the Coalition will change that.”

In its first year, the Coalition will partner directly with girls, their families, and the community to understand the unique challenges that girls face today, including releasing a State of the Hoosier Girl report in May 2023. This report will serve as a rally cry for the adults in Indiana to ensure our girls are well equipped for a lifetime of success.

“As youth continue to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, research shows that our state is approaching a mental health crisis,” Pickerrell said. “This research can often overshadow the important differences between how girls and boys experience mental or emotional distress, often to the detriment of girls who experience undiagnosed depression, anxiety, or other serious conditions.”

Wright added, “With Mackenzie’s leadership and the proven benefits and impact of Girl Scouts to guide us, the Hoosier Girl Coalition is energized and ready to lead the state of Indiana in creating meaningful experiences that help all girls thrive.”