Hello, Ellen!

Meet Ellen Bankston－the Harrison Center’s newest intern! While she only works with the center part-time, she’s become a great addition to the intern family. Ellen is a kind and social type 8 on the Enneagram and a 2018 Purdue graduate who grew up in Carmel, IN and now resides in Indianapolis. By coming to the First Fridays at the Harrison Center, she was introduced to how the center uses art to influence community development and she’s been connected ever since! 

Although she started off her college career by studying public health, she grew more and more interested in the whys behind what makes a community “healthy”. Looking through the lens of social sciences, Ellen is fascinated by the patterns that are revealed in creative attempts for crime prevention and safety. By analyzing qualitative data and listening to residents’ stories, she currently holds the Community Builder title at John Boner Community Center. However, the Boner Center focuses more on statistical information, so she notes that she is excited to learn more about how the Harrison Center incorporates art into community development.

Currently, Ellen is working with Yeabsera Tabb and Alyssa Trinko on projects revolving around creative placemaking. But in her free time, she enjoys cooking, running, and hand lettering. Her favorite dish to cook is risotto, she loves eating popsicles, and fun fact: she was in show choir in high school! The Harrison Center is so thankful for her contribution this summer, especially the gifts she brings from her work at the Bonner Center. Next time you’re at the Harrison Center, we hope you get to meet Ellen!