Community Corner

Local Resident Launches Nonprofit to Showcase Women's Inner Glow

Founded by Amber Kreisel, InTheGlow, aims to empower young women on a simplistic level.

Ever since she was a kid, Bel Air native Amber Kreisel has wanted to start a nonprofit. And on September 1, Kreisel will see the organization she had already built become an even bigger reality.

Kresiel, 26, launched InTheGlow in April. On Sunday, she will officially launch her first initiative, Dress Your Glow with the opening of a storefront that will provide dresses to local girls free of charge.

“Starting a nonprofit is something I wanted to do ever since I was really young,” Kreisel said. “I have always been an advocate for women, women empowerment and self-confidence. In Harford County there isn’t something specific for women.”

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Kreisel got the idea for InTheGlow while doing charity work for her sorority at Wingate University. After she graduated college, and landed a Public Relations job in Belcamp, she decided to pursue her passion for helping women.

In April, Kreisel and local volunteers started going around to local community members and business asking for dress donations.

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“I started with the five dresses that were in my closet, and last Saturday we moved 900 dressed into the space we are opening up on September 1,” Kreisel said.

The dresses will be displayed at the DressYourGlow shop for girls to come in and find the perfect dress for their upcoming dance—free of charge.

Kreisel said they will also have accessories, jewelry and handbags all for free, with the expectation the girls will bring the items back when they are finished. No money will be exchanged. 

“It is for all young women in the community,” Kreisel said. “We are not accessing need, and we are not tailored to a certain socioeconomic group or community. The shop is for all girls to come in a discover a smarter way to attend these events than spending a lot of money.”

The storefront for DressYourGlow was donated, rent-free for four months, by Pathways to Whole Living and will be located at 725 North Hickory Ave. Suite 300.

In the future, Kreisel said she sees InTheGlow helping women build resumes, land jobs, and find an inner confidence. 

“I just want it to be a nonprofit movement that empowers young women on a real simplistic level,” Kreisel said, “It is women helping women by taking any blessing they have received, and using it to contribute to other women.”

InTheGlow’s shop will open September 1 at 725 North Hickory Ave. Suite 300 in Bel Air. It will be open from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursday; from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays; and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. 

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