Orchard Graduate, Adrianne Slash, Appointed to Civil Rights Commission

Governor Eric Holcomb recently appointed Adrianne Slash, who graduated from The Orchard School in 1998, to the Civil Rights Commission. Adrianne credits a lot of her success to the progressive education she received from Orchard. Read below to find out what she’s up to now, her years at Orchard, and what she’ll be doing on the Civil Rights Commission.


What are you doing now?
I’m working as a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, Community Health Network. As a volunteer I serve as President of The Exchange at the Indianapolis Urban League (young professionals auxiliary of the Indianapolis Urban Leagy), President of the Orchard Alumni Heritage Association, I’m a board member at the Jewish Community Center, part of the steering committe for Unity Project (an organization that advocates for unity in Black and Jewish relations through arts and culture), I’m a board member for Visit Indy, a member of the Africian American Coalition Steering Committee and a 2015 candidate for Indianapolis City County Council.
 
You were recently appointed to the Civil Rights Commission. What exactly will you be doing?
This role is a volunteer role, I will be serving on the commission as a board member, helping to direct the state of Indiana's office that deals with Civil Rights issues, laws and initiatives.
 
What is your career/educational history?
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hampton Unversity and started my career on the Indiana State Republican Central Committee. After that I moved on to working for the United Way of Central Indiana, Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis and Leadership Indianapolis. I’m currently serving as a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant for Community Health Network.
 
What awards or accolades have you received?
I’ve recieved the following awards:
• 2017 National Urban League Young Professionals Hero in the Movement (1/10 nationally)
• 2017 Forty under 40
• Indianapolis Foundation Fellow
• 2015-16 Exchange Leadership Fellow
• 2015 100 Black Men Emerging Leader Award Recipient
 
How did Orchard help you get to where you are today?
Orchard made me think of myself as a contributor and value service. Because of my time at orchard, I am an advocate and I value inclusion. Thanks to my time at Orchard, I also imagine the world in terms of what's possible, and it's with that lens, that I get the motivation to keep going.
 
What is your fondest memory of Orchard?
In second grade, when I met my maypole partner Adrianne, I had no idea that she'd be my friend even in adulthood. But she is! I just remember, how awesome it was to have my partner share my name. I adored and still adore the way that Orchard has a way of infusing tradition at every angle of learning. I looked up to second graders when I was in 1st grade, and to 8th graders thereafter. But it was meeting my maypole partner Adrianne Glidewell (now Smith), that I began to think of what a more mature Adrianne Slash should be.
 
Back