The unemployment rate in Marion County has faced record highs throughout the duration of the COVID-19 global health crisis. Many residents have been faced with not only the collective uncertainty brought forth by the pandemic but, also, the adverse tribulations that ensue after losing employment. 

The Regional Workforce Partnership (RWP) coordinated efforts with local nonprofits, employers, state agencies, and community organizations to assist the residents of Indianapolis in getting back to work as quickly and safely as possible. These efforts, however, were tailored to intentionally fulfill the need for a diverse pipeline of talent amongst local employers. The utilization of collaboration and unification is key in bridging the gap between the job seekers and employers of our community, and, as so, the Rapid Re-Employment Response plan was initiated. 

In August of 2020, this plan came to fruition through the partnership of EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana. These two organizations utilized the Ascend Network, an online technology platform, to connect dislocated workers with available jobs and training opportunities. EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana adapted the platform to include a variety of job seekers with differing educational backgrounds and experiences, all while providing personalized support to help each individual navigate their career paths.

“Bringing on new technology and being the first expansion partner of the Ascend Network while diligently working within this partnership to make sure that the platform aligns with the populations EmployIndy serves has been a crucial learning process,” says Betsy Revell, Vice President of Talent Solutions at EmployIndy. 

Over the last year, 944 job seekers have completed their logins to the Ascend Network. Of those job seekers, 443 have scheduled meetings with EmployIndy Recruitment Managers, who meet one-on-one with job seekers to assess their resumes, interview skills, and overall job readiness. 

Based on those preparations, Recruitment Managers either refer individual job seekers to WorkOne Indy for additional career-ready enhancement or directly admit them to the Ascend Network to launch their profiles. Nearly 256 job seekers have been referred to WorkOne over the duration of Rapid Re-Employment Response, cumulating a total of 357 career-ready job seekers as active profiles within the network’s talent pipeline. 

As of August 20th, 2021– the one-year anniversary of EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana’s utilization of the Ascend Network– 212 job seekers have been placed in employment positions through Rapid Re-Employment Response. 

Placing over 200 job seekers in positions amid the obstacles of the COVID-19 pandemic has required major flexibility and adjustments as workforce developers. But, as Revell states, “What is incredible about reaching this milestone is that we have been able to see that, the more people engage, the more outcomes we achieve.”

This milestone marks a 59% conversion rate of active profiles to job placements. Mileah Gray, Director, Rapid Re-Employment Response Talent Network, notes that this rate of success comes from EmployIndy Recruitment Managers’ active role in guiding the relationships between job seekers and employers. 

“The human connection aspect of the network establishes a relationship with the job seeker and enables the Recruitment Manager to provide the job seeker with confidence in interviewing and ongoing encouragement to persevere in their job search,” says Gray. 

• For additional information on the Rapid Re-Employment Response, please visit www.employindy.org/RapidReemploymentResponse.
• Current members of the Indianapolis RWP include the City of Indianapolis, EmployIndy, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (Ascend and Conexus), Indy Chamber, United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI), Indiana Chamber, the Department of Workforce Development (DWD), the Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship, Commission for Higher Education (CHE), and Skillful.

Local diversity advocates support, recognize and inspire employers to adopt diversity framework best practices to improve success within their community and workplace

INDIANAPOLIS – 19 August 2021 – Today marks the 20^th Annual Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity. This year’s event took place virtually with over 200 attendees with a focus on how businesses can benefit by adopting a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion framework and best practices. EmployIndy, the City of Indianapolis, and the Office of Minority and Women Business Development are honored to have hosted an event celebrating high-achieving local employers with participation from many influential speakers and a special emphasis on the importance of supporting the employment of Indianapolis young people through Project Indy, Mayor Joe Hogsett’s youth jobs initiative.

Project Indy is a location-based job search platform for Indianapolis residents ages 16-24. With over 200 local employers registered, thousands of young people have been connected to employment opportunities. This platform not only connects youth to jobs, it provides an opportunity for employers to diversify their organization and encourage leadership amongst team members.

“It is critical we take time to celebrate our community’s commitment to diversity,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Engaging young people is more important now than ever. Today, we commend the businesses and non-profits who are already leading the way toward a diverse and prosperous Indianapolis.”

With the financial support of many Indianapolis employers, the Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity hosted well-known local advocates. Attendees to the twentieth annual event learned and heard from the following community leaders:

• DuJuan McCoy, Keynote speaker and owner, president, and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting;
• Mayor Joe Hogsett, City of Indianapolis;
• Angela Carr Klitzsch, president and CEO of EmployIndy;
• Tehea Harding, chief finance and administration officer at EmployIndy;
• Michael Huber, president and CEO of Indy Chamber;
• Fanchon Stinger and Dan Spheler, news anchors at FOX59;
• Kelli Jones, co-founder of Be Nimble Co. and Sixty8 Capital;
• Pamela Ross, vice president of opportunity, equity and inclusion at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF); and
• Consuelo Poland Lockhart, founder of Latinas Welding Guild
• Alan K. Bacon, GANGGANG
• Malina Simone Jeffers, GANGGANG

“Today, and everyday, we are grateful to the employers who are actively making a difference for our young people through support of this event and are proud to celebrate employers in our community by shining a light on their efforts to increase diversity and inclusion,” said Angela Carr Klitzsch, EmployIndy. “Over the past six years, over 17,000 young adults have accessed jobs through Project Indy. These young people are the future of Indianapolis – the future of our workplaces and our neighborhoods. Creating equitable access to employment for youth provides employers with a pipeline for long-term talent needed in the workplace and individuals with the employability skills to be successful now and in the future.”

This event is a time to recognize employers who have made exceptional efforts to demonstrate inclusivity, diversity, and equity in their workplaces through their leadership, hiring practices, and focus on culture. This year’s award recipients are as follows:

• “Sam H. Jones ‘Best of the Best’” was awarded to Citizens Energy Group for their “One Company, One Culture” action plan to strengthen workplace culture while maintaining a customer-centered workplace. Their Diversity and Inclusion team has also implemented several initiatives to support equity and belonging during the pandemic.
• “Diversity in Leadership” was awarded to the Indianapolis Airport Authority for their targeted focus on building and sustaining a culture that fosters equitable inclusion and diversity in all aspects of business by optimizing organizational performance and employee respect and engagement.
• “Diversity in Workforce” was awarded to Arcamed, LLC, for their work in partnering with a number of local organizations to increase diversity and improve hiring practices company-wide. They have also implemented interview strategies to reduce any potential biases when evaluating candidates.
• “Excellence in Youth Employment” was awarded to OneAmerica for their support of young people in the development of their Pathways Program that introduces students from diverse neighborhoods to the business and finance industries while providing opportunities for mentorship and skills-building.

Due to the impact of COVID-19 in Marion County, many businesses have experienced temporary and permanent closures. Because of this, there is an even higher number of young residents who are facing unemployment.

To support and provide employment resources for these young people, all proceeds from the 20^th Annual Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity go towards sustaining Mayor Hogsett’s Project Indy youth jobs program. This program introduces young people to what is often their first job, teaching them the importance of soft skills such as time management, teamwork, workplace etiquette, and more.

In order to donate and support the continuation of the Project Indy initiative, please go to employindy.org/donate. More information about Project Indy can be found at projectindy.net.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left the public fearful for the health and well-being of their families, but for many Hoosiers, the resulting recession has destabilized their entire lives amid the collective unrest within our communities. The closure of non-essential businesses left many jobless, and workers with low-wage, non-promising jobs found themselves on the brink of economic disaster.

23-year-old Daijia Bible is one of the aforementioned workers who became unemployed due to COVID-19. An Indianapolis native and graduate from Arsenal Tech Highschool, Daijia was working at a restaurant when the pandemic hit the United States. A mom of two toddlers with her third child on the way, Daijia lost her job in April of 2020, a month before her due date. Her childrens’ daycare also shut down, and Daijia found herself without an income nor a place to live in the midst of being the sole provider for herself and her young children. 

Daijia remained dedicated to her family, searching for ways to earn money and take care of her young children. In June of 2020, she was connected to Julie Barrett, Workforce Development Manager at the Martindale Brightwood Community Development Corporation (MBCDC), the only mobile Youth Employment Service (YES) program provider in Central Indiana. With an innovative delivery system, MBCDC is able to provide YES program services that are tailored to each individual. The goal is to uniquely impact opportunity youth– people age 16-24 who have become disconnected from school and/or work– with support to reconnect them on a career path. 

Mobile YES services allow MBCDC programmers to meet youth and young adults where they are at, helping them attain self-sufficiency through education, training, and employment. 

Julie enrolled Daijia in the mobile YES program over the phone. Shortly thereafter, she took Daijia to purchase necessities for her family and secured her with a mobile phone. 

“My first goal was to get Daijia stable and show her that she had somebody who was going to show up for her,” said Julie, recalling her first meeting with Daijia. “She had never had someone show up for her before, and that is what she really needed.”

Daijia was living at Coburn Place when Julie was able to place her in a job through the Disaster Recovery Grant. Daijia took a position as an Outreach Worker with the Ross Foundation in September of 2020. She now works directly with the Eastside community, offering resources and answering questions throughout different neighborhoods. “I love helping people and being a helping hand for the Eastside. The people I meet are my favorite part,” said Daijia, recounting her experiences on the job. 

In October, Daijia completed YES Indy’s virtual Power Huddle program, a two-week job readiness experience where young persons have the opportunity to participate in group discussions, explore opportunities and support through YES Indy. Daijia experienced job preparatory activities that helped her identify her academic, career, and life goals while developing a map to achieve them.

“The Power Huddle helped me out because it made me sit there and set goals for me and my children and also think about what I really want for my life,” she said. Daijia was recognized amongst her cohort to present her achievements at the Power Huddle graduation ceremony.

Daijia and her children now have their own place as a result of her continuing her part-time position at the Ross Foundation. She still works closely with Julie as they continue to make plans for Daijia’s future; she is currently exploring options to attend nursing school at either Ivy Tech Community College or St. Joseph’s College of Marian University. 

“Without Miss Julie, I would have never gotten this far. I wouldn’t have known anything about YES Indy, and because of it now I have a job and can take care of my kids,” said Daijia. “No matter what, I just can’t be afraid to move forward.”