Sonya Cooke expands Girl Talk's support for girls and mothers in Indianapolis

Sonya Cooke, founder and executive director of Girl Talk Incorporated, is using mentorship, education and wraparound services to help girls and single mothers across Indianapolis build stability and confidence. Her work now reaches ages 10 to 18, with programs ranging from empowerment workshops to career support and mental health resources.

Why it matters: - Girl Talk Incorporated is addressing gaps in support for girls and single mothers with programs tied to confidence, education, career readiness and long-term stability. - The organization’s model combines mentorship with practical services, which can matter for families facing financial, educational and emotional barriers. - Cooke’s work reflects a broader need for community-based support systems that help young women and mothers move toward independence.

What happened: - Sonya Cooke founded Girl Talk Incorporated in Indianapolis and serves as its executive director. - Cooke has spent more than a decade building safe, non-judgmental spaces for girls to develop leadership skills and work through personal challenges. - Girl Talk serves girls ages 10 to 18 and single mothers through empowerment and support programs. - Cooke is also a nonprofit leader, mentor, speaker and advocate. - The company's announcement highlights Cooke’s profile through Influential Women.

The details: - Girl Talk’s signature eight-week empowerment program began in 2016. - The program covers self-esteem, conflict resolution, financial literacy, body positivity and personal development. - Girl Talk also offers Empower Her Academy, career mentorship, business internships, after-school tutoring and one-on-one mentoring. - The Mother Supporting Mothers Quarterly Workshop gives mothers another space for connection and support. - The Thrive Project provides mental health support, financial literacy education, career preparation, homeownership resources and other wraparound services. - Cooke says her own experience as a teenage mother shaped her focus on mentorship and access. - After leaving high school as a teen mother caring for a child with cerebral palsy, Cooke later earned a GED and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Indiana Institute of Technology. - Cooke also completed professional certifications in mental health, business marketing, coaching, public speaking and etiquette instruction. - Cooke is a certified professional coach, Toastmasters professional public speaker and etiquette instructor. - Her affiliations include the National Association for Women Business Owners, IPS 48, Girl Talk Incorporated, Girls Inc. and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. - Girl Talk marked 10 Years of Impact with testimonials from girls and mothers who have used the organization’s services.

Between the lines: - Cooke’s story is part personal testimony and part leadership strategy: her experience as a young mother informs the services Girl Talk now offers. - The combination of mentoring, academic support and life-skills training suggests the organization is designed to support both immediate needs and longer-term outcomes. - Cooke’s plan to add etiquette training points to a broader approach that extends beyond basic support into confidence-building and professional readiness. - Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs centers on preparation, focus and choosing work rooted in genuine passion.

What's next: - Cooke plans to integrate etiquette training into Girl Talk. - She also expects to keep mentoring girls and mothers through community organizations and professional networks. - Girl Talk is likely to continue expanding services that support education, career development and family stability.

The bottom line: - Sonya Cooke has turned a personal journey into a community model that blends mentorship, practical help and leadership development for Indianapolis families.