All About the Girls embraces living ‘Without Permission’ at 11th annual celebration empowering women in Northern Indiana

What began as an intimate gathering at Valparaiso’s Industrial Revolution restaurant has evolved into one of Northern Indiana’s premier celebrations of women’s empowerment. On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the 11th installment of All About The Girls was hosted by GreatNews.Life at Urschel Pavilion. Hundreds of people filled the space to uplift women’s voices, foster meaningful connections, and share stories of courage, triumph, strength, and grit. The evening began with an energetic performance by Mirror Image Dance Academy, whose talented dancers set an uplifting tone for the celebration.

“We have so many women in this room from different walks of life,” said AATG Founder Jenny Craig-Brown. “We have women owning businesses, leading organizations, raising families, changing careers, starting over, showing up, and figuring it out as they go. Tonight is about supporting one another, learning from one another, and leaving here with a few new ideas, new friends, and more confidence.”

Denise Carpenter, director of communications for NorthShore Health Centers, provided the opening remarks for this year’s celebration. She describes how this year’s AATG theme of “Without Permission” aligns with many of the life experiences that shaped her into the woman she is today.

“This theme is right up my alley. I’m the ‘Asking for forgiveness is easier than asking for permission’ type of person. These are my people, and I’m extremely honored to be a part of this incredible event,” Carpenter said.

Part 11 of the AATG event featured six guest speakers: Jessica Spoljaric, director of communications at the City of La Porte; Stephanie Krol, founder of Stephanie Krol Public Relations; Alyssa Gawlinski, board president of Fighting Pretty; Marlene Nosbusch, serving queen; Jennifer Reed, director of special events for Crossroads Northwest Indiana’s Chamber; and Ari Hensley, outreach director with Lerner & Rowe Injury Attorneys.

When Spoljaric first heard the theme of this year’s AATG event, it struck her core. She believes she has spent much of her life waiting for permission, whether that meant getting the top grade in her class or helping her family and friends. However, once she embarked on a chapter of motherhood, it opened her eyes to a new reality.

“For the first time, there was no rubric, no syllabus, no roadmap, no metric for success. Motherhood didn’t come with any of that,” Spoljaric said. “I would sit there on social media watching moms on TikTok and Instagram who seemed to have everything figured out. There was one particular day where the sink and hamper were overflowing and the baby wouldn’t stop crying. I felt like I was barely holding it together. My mom came over to give me a much needed break. I remember watching her hold my newborn son, and she showed me that motherhood isn’t about having a perfect house, a perfect schedule, or having all the answers. It’s about showing up. It’s about the little moments.”

When asking herself how many times she waited for permission, Krol recalls her dream of starting Stephanie Krol Public Relations more than two decades ago. In most cases, her dream to start the business would come to a halt when she talked herself out of it. However, one mentor changed her entire perspective, leading her down the path of chasing her lifelong dream.

“My mentor told me that I didn’t need anyone’s permission, so I did it. I took a leap and started my business,” Krol said. “Was I scared? Absolutely. Did I know everything? No, not even close. I’m still learning 20 years in the business, but I’m always telling my clients to follow your gut instinct. One thing that I’ve discovered is that most people don’t lack talent – they lack confidence. Sometimes, all they need is a tiny reminder that their story matters. We all have a story.”

As a national nonprofit that works to support every woman battling cancer, Gawlinski has been able to uplift more than 50,000 women across the United States, as well as 30 counties internationally. Throughout the event, attendees were encouraged to donate $15 or more through a QR code, as each donation supported one woman in active treatment through Fighting Pretty’s strength and beauty program.

“Cancer doesn’t ask for permission; it doesn’t ask if we’re ready. It simply shows up, and when it does, that’s when your army does too,” Gawlinski said. “That’s what Fighting Pretty represents: a community of survivors, thrivers, caregivers, families, and friends coming together to ensure no woman ever faces cancer alone.”

Throughout her speech, Gawlinski reflected on her grandfather, who her family lost to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She also invited Sarah Flores to the stage, as Flores is a breast cancer survivor who experienced what Fighting Pretty can offer firsthand.

“In 2023, at 37 years old – as a wife and mother, a full-time career woman – I received the worst news of my life,” Flores said. “Cancer taught me some of the most precious lessons, from the hard ones to the beautiful ones. Fighting Pretty is not just a box of items or a gift you open and set aside – it’s a powerful act of kindness and love that goes far beyond its contents. Inside that box is hope, power, and strength. It might be the reason someone gets out of bed that morning and decides to keep fighting because someone they’ve never met decided that their fight was worth showing up for. If you’ve ever wondered whether a small act of kindness matters, I’m standing here to tell you that it does.”

Nosbusch, who generally spends her Thursday nights playing bingo with the seniors at the Pines Village Retirement Communities, made an exception to her routine to create an interactive giveaway game of bingo for everyone in attendance. Whether it’s going outside of her comfort zone or her ability to take ownership, Nosbusch takes pride in all the things she has done without permission.

“One of the gifts that God has given me is my big personality,” Nosbusch said. “I’m certainly not the sharpest crayon in the box, but with that gift, it certainly makes me one of the brightest. Without permission, people often have asked me about my career at the restaurants that I’ve worked at. Over the years of my career, most of my employers were women in the restaurant business, and they trusted me. I didn’t need to have permission; they allowed me to have my creative juices flowing. My job is my passion, and I serve from the heart.”

Living a life without permission can stem from just one moment. Reed has been living a life without permission since November 11, 2024, when she unexpectedly lost her husband of 30 years. The days of struggling to sleep and telling people she was doing okay were undeniably difficult. While it has been far from easy, she has been able to reflect on this situation and, with the support of her peers, find a new version of herself.

“No matter how much you wish it came with an instructional manual, you just need to keep going. Life changed, friends changed, family changed – everything changed,” Reed said. “So, why shouldn’t I? Things became clearer. I’m a new me, and I need to figure out who that is. Work became fun again. I began finding my strength with the support of these ladies, and I surrounded myself with amazing friendships – both old and new. They helped me look in the mirror and see myself, my strengths, and my power to overcome. I will forever be grateful for their time, love, and support.”

In some cases, living without permission can lead people down bumpy paths. When Hensley was younger, she dreamed of becoming a doctor. She graduated high school with honors and had been accepted to all three schools that she applied to. With the price tag being so extreme at some of these schools, she chose Purdue University Northwest (known then as Purdue University Calumet). She eventually got into a relationship, which turned into a story of grief and trauma when her partner tragically passed. As a way to seek out answers, she enrolled herself in therapy without permission.

“I worked multiple jobs, and was often getting very little sleep, while my friends enjoyed their youth,” Hensley said. “I slowly crawled my way to being debt-free. I re-enrolled in college, but this time with a degree in marketing to allow an outlet for my creativity. I became a certified peer recovery facilitator. I became a mentor for at-risk youth and met with them weekly. I know firsthand how much hurt there is and that help is needed, and what a full-circle moment it is that in my current role at Lerner and Rowe, I’m able to provide support to over 30 nonprofits throughout Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. It was never luck that helped me get here; it was pure grit and determination.”

This year’s All About the Girls was sponsored by NorthShore Health Centers, Goodwill, United Way Northwest Indiana, Sweis INFINITI of Merrillville, Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, Zao Island, Pavlou Restaurant Group, and Team Chevrolet Valparaiso. This year’s nonprofit sponsor was Fighting Pretty.

As AATG Part 11 has come and gone, the opportunities to celebrate and support the women in your communities does not stop here. Stay up to date with all things All About The Girls year-round by listening to its monthly podcast, subscribing to its YouTube channel, and by following its social media on Facebook and Instagram.