Girl Talk, a Knoxville-based nonprofit dedicated to mentoring and empowering middle and high school girls, continues to expand its reach thanks to a strategic partnership with SouthEast Bank. Through scholarships, lending support and shared values, the bank is helping Girl Talk deepen its impact across East Tennessee, including students like Brianna Andrews.
After being a long-time Girl Talk member, Brianna submitted a personal essay in 2024 about challenging perceptions and advocating herself, earning her $5,000, the top tier of four annual scholarships offered by SouthEast Bank in partnership with Girl Talk. Brianna is currently a sophomore at the University of Tennessee studying biomedical engineering on a pre-med track.
“As a Black woman in engineering, I’m often the only one in the room,” she said. “Girl Talk helped me find my voice and believe I belong in those spaces.”
Raised by her mother in East Knoxville, Brianna joined Girl Talk in seventh grade as a shy, reserved student. Over years of membership, she participated in one-on-one mentoring, served on the youth advisory board and completed the Life Prep Academy.
“Girl Talk changed the trajectory of my life,” Brianna said. “The person I was when I joined is not the person I became when I graduated.”
Her journey to college was shaped by early exposure to engineering and a desire to help others, inspired by her grandparents’ struggles with autoimmune conditions.
“I’ve always been smart and driven,” Brianna said. “But coming from a lower-income neighborhood, the question was never if I’d go to college – it was how I’d afford it.”
Thanks to scholarships from SouthEast Bank, UT and other community organizations, Brianna is attending college debt-free.
“Not having to worry about how I’ll pay for school allows me to focus on learning, research and giving back,” she said. “It’s a privilege I don’t take for granted.”
Brianna also praised SouthEast Bank’s involvement in financial literacy programming, including a matching savings initiative for students in the Life Prep Academy.
“It’s more than just funding, it’s about teaching us how to manage money and plan for our futures,” she said.
Deborah Ann Lee, branch manager and vice president at SouthEast Bank in Bearden, has seen the impact of these programs firsthand.
“I’ve been involved with Girl Talk since 2019 and have served on the board for more than four years,” Deborah said. “During that time, I’ve had the opportunity to support the Life Prep program by helping implement the savings initiative and I’ve witnessed how it’s helped many girls develop strong financial habits. I often say I wish a program like Girl Talk had existed when I was in high school. The mentorship and confidence-building this organization provides is truly life-changing for these young women.”
Now immersed in campus life at UT, Brianna already is thinking about how to pay it forward.
“One of my biggest goals is to start a nonprofit that helps inner-city girls pursue careers in STEM,” she said. “Representation matters. If I can do it, they can, too.”
Her advice to students facing similar challenges? “Don’t count yourself out. There are people and programs out there that want to see you succeed. Bet on yourself, you can do it.”
For Brianna, Girl Talk and SouthEast Bank didn’t just open doors, they helped her walk through them with confidence.
SouthEast Bank has partnered with Girl Talk since 2015, and most recently donated $125,000 toward programming and student scholarships and a further $500,000 to the construction of the Girl Talk House, which will be the organization’s first permanent headquarters. The organization intends to use this space to host Life Prep classes, sleepovers and events that help girls build confidence and life skills. It is expected to open in June 2026.
