Written by Casey Harrison CEO of Polished Comms for the Minority Business Review
In the heart of Central Indiana, a revolution is quietly unfolding driven by the visionary minds of Amanda Bonilla and Doneisha Posey. As Bonilla, a Latina woman, and Posey, a Black woman, were conversing about equity in Indianapolis, they quickly identified a critical gap—neither woman knew any of the individuals within the other’s network. As the realization took hold, they realized there was one, sure-fire way to bring women together: host a brunch.
Women’s Equity Brunch, affectionately known as WE Brunch Indy, launched in 2021—and what started as an event has now evolved into a tightly connected network that helps educate, inspire, and propel women in every facet of their beings.
Identifying a Need
It all began with a simple conversation—an exchange of ideas between Amanda and Doneisha, both passionate advocates for equity and inclusion. They pondered the possibility of creating a space where women could come together to discuss pressing issues facing their gender. As professionals entrenched in their respective fields, Amanda and Doneisha recognized the need for a platform that seamlessly blended the joy of brunch with meaningful discussions on advancing equity for women. Inspired by their shared vision, they embarked on a journey to turn their idea into reality.
“The creation of WE Brunch Indy felt seamless,” Bonilla reflected. “I believe in the value of connectedness—it’s a core theme in how I solve problems, particularly when looking to advance equity and belonging. The idea of convening a space to foster connections and build a network of support felt like a really easy charge for us to advance.”
So the two-woman team got to work. They selected a venue, started teasing the idea of an equity brunch with their friends, and landed on a name: Women’s Equity Brunch, or WE Brunch. Their hope? To spark an honest conversation, and see what happened next.
“The call to advance equity has followed me throughout my childhood and certainly into my career in higher education and government sectors,” Posey recalled. “I’ve always been passionate about uniting people behind causes to realize impact, and Amanda shares that passion. We didn’t have a plan to host anything beyond that first brunch, and yet, women across central Indiana quickly rallied behind WE Brunch to spark a movement.”
A movement was sparked, indeed. After hosting the first brunch, where tickets sold out in less than one week, Bonilla and Posey were overwhelmed with inquiries from women in their networks and beyond—when is the next brunch, and how do I get a ticket? That’s when they realized they were onto something special.
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