Community Link: Dress for Success INDIANAPOLIS — Each week on Community Link, Carolene Mays takes a look at an organization or business that is making a positive impact on the community. This week, Mays was joined by Julia Petr, the executive director for Dress for Success Indianapolis, a n onprofit dedicated to helping women achieve economic independence by providing professional attire and a robust support system. While many recognize the organization for its boutique services, Petr of Dress for Success Indianapolis explained that they offer much more than just clothing. The organization provides programs designed to help women thrive in both work and life, including resume assistance, LinkedIn profile development, mock interviews, and access to a certified strength finder coach. “Everyone thinks of Dress for Success for the clothing piece, and we’ll see over a thousand women who will come to Dress for Success to receive all the clothing that they need to look very professional and feel confident for their interview,” Petr said. “What a lot of people don’t know is that we help women with their resumes, we help them with LinkedIn profiles, we do mock interviews, we have a certified strength finder coach, and then we have a professional women’s group.” The organization expects to serve more than 1,000 women in 2026. These women, ranging in age from 16 to 70, come from various backgrounds and often face significant hurdles. Petr noted that barriers such as a lack of transportation, reliable daycare, and stable housing can often derail a woman’s opportunity to secure or maintain employment. To help overcome these challenges, Dress for Success offers two-hour appointments Monday through Friday. During these sessions, clients spend one hour with a personal shopper and another hour with a career coach. For those unable to visit the downtown Boutique and Career Center, the organization provides “Empower Her Kits” via curbside pickup. Most clients find their way to the organization through referral partner agencies, but women can also sign up for appointments directly on the Dress for Success website. Petr emphasized that the impact of these services reaches far beyond the individual women served. “I think the real impact is not just for the woman. It’s also for her family and the community herself,” Petr said. “When you can guide a woman into a living wage job, it helps her become economically independent and economically mobile. And that is just a priceless gift.” The community can support the organization’s mission through the upcoming “Stepping Out in Style” fashion show. The event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the JW Marriott. While the show is currently sold out, Petr said volunteers are still needed for the evening’s program, which includes a dinner and reception. In addition to event support, the organization seeks year-round volunteers to sort clothing and assist clients. Financial donations and professional clothing are also welcomed. Donors can drop off clothing at any Classic Cleaners location or directly at the organization’s office at 820 N. Meridian St. on Wednesday mornings. “Help a woman, help a family, help a community. It’s priceless,” Petr said. ...read more read less