In the heart of Muncie, Indiana, three women leaders with divergent backgrounds are working to reshape their community and drive efforts to increase empowerment, equality, and growth for every woman at every level.
Serving others
WaTasha Barnes-Griffin, CEO of YWCA Central Indiana, has positioned the organization as a driving force in the community. WaTasha’s approach to leadership is deeply personal and shaped by her own experiences.
She said her traits as a servant leader were influenced by the strong, matriarchal women she grew up amongst. WaTasha recalls growing up with her grandmother and aunts who were heavily involved in community service. These experiences help encourage her to pursue a career in giving back to her community.
“If you live in a community, you should serve that community,” WaTasha says.
This perspective has guided her efforts at the YWCA, where she prioritizes building an inclusive, collaborative environment that allows everyone to contribute and grow.
The YWCA, formerly known as the “Young Women's Christian Association,” provides programs that are designed to help women navigate their careers and overcome systemic challenges, creating spaces where they can seek advice, share experiences, and develop the confidence needed to advance in life.
According to the YWCA website, the association offers an emergency shelter for women and children that includes wraparound services, as well as education in financial literacy, housing, and professional development.
Their association also provides second-stage long-term housing, facility rental space, and a resale shop for their residents.The YWCA’s website emphasizes their comprehensive services impact hundreds of local families each year.
Through her mentorship, WaTasha has strived to give women the opportunity to gain access to the knowledge and perspectives of other established leaders, which can be transformative in building professional confidence and setting ambitious career goals.
Investing in the future
Juli Metzger, a founding director of Ball State’s Unified Media Lab and co-owner of The JMetzger Group, was raised by her mother, sisters, and grandmother in Muncie.
The connections she built with women during her childhood taught her the importance of representing women in the Muncie community.
“Strong women emulate strong women and that can start with family,” Juli says.
Juli started her career as a copy clerk pouring coffee and sorting mail at ”The Muncie Star,” now known as The Star Press. Within six months of starting at the publication, she transitioned to the obit desk where she wrote obituaries until she was moved into feature writing. While at The Muncie Star, Juli became the first female police beat reporter in Muncie in which she was specifically tasked with writing about police reports, crimes, and arrests.
As a founding director of Ball State University’s Unified Media Lab, Juli says she wanted to foster an academic and practical learning environment where students — especially women — gain hands-on experience in media, build resilience in storytelling, and develop the confidence to lead.
“The goal was to teach students cross-platform journalism. The best journalist knows how to practice in print, online, on radio, stream and over the air broadcasts. It was designed to be a place where students could learn from each other,” Juli says
In 2011, Juli co-founded The JMetzger Group, a strategic communication company specializing in nonprofits. They publish magazines and books while working on messaging, advertising, and marketing for their clients. The JMetzger Group exemplifies Juli's belief in the power of effective communication and its potential to make a positive difference in the world.
The JMetzger Website highlights their goal to embrace the value of public relations, advertising and marketing strategies to solve real-world problems.
Throughout her career, Juli has continuously worked to elevate women in the community, by being a part of WIBU (Women in Business Unlimited) with this commitment she was recently recognized when she was inducted into the Ball State University Journalism Hall of Fame.
This prestigious honor is a testament to her outstanding contributions to journalism and education. Juli’s legacy extends far beyond her work as a journalist and entrepreneur; it lies in her unwavering dedication to helping others succeed, especially women who may otherwise have been overlooked or underestimated.
Juli’s experience as a media professional and educator is a foundation to teach communication strategies in her work supporting causes. She says one personal objective is to lift other women and recognize their community contributions.
“True leadership is empowering others to reach their full potential,” Juli says. “It’s about giving back and creating opportunities for the next generation.”
Paving her own path
Dorica Young-Watson holds many titles. She’s a social worker, certified Life Coach, Community Advocate, Trainer, owner of Own Your Change Coaching & Consulting, and serves as the Director of Community Engagement at Open Door Health Services.
Born and raised in Muncie, Watson always sensed her capacity to lead but struggled with doubts and societal constraints that often discouraged her from claiming her ideas as her own.
"I lived a life of being too much for some and not enough for others," Dorica shared.
Dorica says she would downplay her accomplishments for years, crediting others instead of herself to avoid appearing as "too much." It wasn’t until within the last fifthteen years that she fully embraced her leadership potential.
Watson’s journey to authentic self-expression was challenging, marked by instances where she allowed others to take the lead, even at her own expense. She has now reached a point where she values her voice and makes it a priority to show up as her full self.
"If I don't show up for me, I’ll spend the rest of my life chasing people who don’t show up for me either," Dorica says.
Her growth and inspiration for leading was from her daughter, realizing she was part of her legacy. It increased her want to lead by example and not allow outside voices to derail her.
As a leader, Dorica understands the specific challenges women face in leadership roles, especially in communities like Muncie, where traditional views about women’s capabilities can persist.
She notes that many women face "outdated views of what a woman can do," leading to exhausting cycles of proving their worth.
Dorica believes in creating spaces where women can share their ideas freely and be valued not for meeting quotas but for their contributions and perspectives.
Dorica hopes to leave an impact on Muncie by being someone for young people "who I needed for myself." Her ultimate goal is to leave a legacy of empowerment, where she doesn’t just “take up space” but inspires others to create their own.
Passing the torch
According to the American Psychological Association, it’s been found that female leaders demonstrate more transformational leadership styles, and team collaboration is greatly improved by the presence of women's workspaces.
However, despite the benefits, only 10% of Fortune 500 companies are led by women.
WaTasha, Juli, and Dorica share a common vision of empowering women and creating opportunities for them to succeed in Muncie. Their leadership journeys are all rooted in a deep commitment to community and a personal understanding of the challenges women face.
They are building a lasting legacy of empowerment for women in Muncie and beyond.
Contact Cristal Mariano via email at cristial.mariano@bsu.edu.
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