Founded by Malina (Mali) Simone Jeffers, Malina Simone works to challenge personal perspectives towards more equitable thinking.  “We can only change the world by changing cities. Changing cities starts with people.”

Click here for a short video about the work of Malina Simone. 

Malina Simone Jeffers attended Ball State University where she studied 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 development of new programs and branding of the theatre in relation to historic Indiana Avenue and Indianapolis as a whole. Mali then began an independent project management career dedicated to finding creative solutions for addressing diversity, equity and inclusion needs in cities. That passion fueled her being Love Indy’s 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. Mali uses her experience in arts, culture, civic pride and community to lead marketing and neighborhood initiatives for Ambrose Property Group.

In 2016, Mali was one of few Indiana women selected to attend the White House Summit for Women in Washington, D.C. for her achievement in diversity and equity work in Indianapolis. 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, Indy Chamber’s new emerging leader Leadership Exchange program. 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 and is the founder of the Indiana Avenue Cultural 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 440 under Forty recipient from the Indianapolis Business Journal and a 2015 TedX speaker.

Contact: Mali@MalinaSimone.com @MalinaSimone

Malina Simone develops, manages and supports projects around race, civic pride, arts and culture.