Tanorria and Candace are joined by powerhouse connector and unsegregator Malina Simoné Jeffers. The trio talks about Indy culture, love, life, and why creating with a purpose matters.

Malina Simone Jeffers attended Ball State University where she studied both Advertising and Photography. Tagged “The Unsegregator” by the Indianapolis Star, she started her career organizing a series of performance based public events for underserved communities. As Arts Services Manager at the Arts Council of Indianapolis, Mali managed Art & Soul, coordinated downtown public art exhibitions and organized Shared Spaces, Shared Voices – a project that put live poetry on public transit in Indianapolis for one week. In 2010, Mali transitioned into the Director of Marketing and Programs at the Madame Walker Theatre Center where she was responsible for the development of new programs and the branding of the theatre in relation to historic Indiana Avenue and the greater city. Mali then began a career of independent project management dedicated to finding creative ways to address diversity, equity and inclusion needs in cities. She used that passion in her role as Love Indy Project Manager for Plan 2020 – Indianapolis’ bicentennial planning agenda – where she worked to foster local pride, local tourism, civic engagement and develop talent attraction strategies. In 2017, Mali joined Ambrose Property Group to lead marketing and community efforts for the redevelopment of Indy’s former GM Stamping Plant later known as Waterside – a transformational vision for 103 urban acres along downtown’s river.

Center for Leadership Development awarded Mali a Minority Achievers Award in Arts and Culture in 2013. Mali was also a 2013 Indianapolis delegate for the city’s Chamber of Commerce Leadership Exchange in Cologne, Germany. She co-founded Advance 317, a new program at Indy Chamber as part of Leadership Exchange for emerging leaders. The Indy native has a genuine passion for her hometown and won the Emerging Leaders Award from 100 Black Men for her work in the cultural community. Mali sits on the Board of Directors for Indiana Humanities, Big Car, and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. She also serves on The Exchange at the Indianapolis Urban League. Mali is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. a graduate of the Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Series, class XXXIX, a 2016 40 under Forty recipient from the Indianapolis Business Journal and a 2015 TedX speaker.

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