When adults struggle to find the next step in their careers or feel stuck in their professional journey, adult education providers and community-based organizations can play a vital role in providing necessary education and training to help them advance. Often, this is made possible through the funding and support provided by intermediaries, like EmployIndy, who serve as strategic workforce development leaders, funders, and conveners in their regions.  

For MSD of Warren Township’s Program of Adult and Continuing Education, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding provided by EmployIndy helped them connect Vincent Oliver to a training opportunity that’s provided him with growth and stability. Looking for steadier employment and having an interest in construction, Oliver enrolled in the BY Construction Training program located at Warren’s Adult and Continuing Education center, earning his OSHA 10 Certification and NCCER Core Credential. Not long after completing the program, he was hired by HG Metals where he’s training to be a welder. 

As a workforce intermediary, EmployIndy invests over $20 million in public, private, and philanthropic funds annually to support our partners and create economic opportunity and remove barriers to employment for both youth and adults, like Oliver.  When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, workforce intermediaries across the country were tasked with helping distribute financial aid that would “extend a lifeline to the unemployed” through bolstered reemployment, education, and training efforts. In addition to using ARPA funding to support a cohort of local adult education providers, like MSD of Warren Township, EmployIndy also began hosting a community of practice to provide guidance as these providers aimed to keep their programs and services going amid a national crisis. To date, these providers have used EmployIndy’s guidance and ARPA funding to help 594 Indy adults earn HSE diplomas, 918 earn training credentials, and 1,543 earn job placements. 

Do you have stories of impact because of EmployIndy’s support? We would love to share them with our workforce partners. Send us a note at social@nullemployindy.org to start the conversation. 

On February 11th, Lilliana Mendoza stood on stage in front of over 110 Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) students from 15 local high schools and 3 local middle schools as she was named JAG Indy’s Outstanding Senior at the 2025 Regional Career Development Conference (CDC), an annual career development competition where students can demonstrate the employability skills they have learned in their JAG classrooms over the course of the past year.  

For Mendoza, a senior at Arsenal Technical High School, caring for those in her community and prioritizing her education have been important values, instilled in her by her parents, that have helped her be an active leader in her JAG program. Nominated by her peers to serve as JAG student president, Mendoza logged 160 hours of volunteer work with Meals on Wheels during summer breaks.  

“JAG gives you a place to be your best,” said Mendoza when asked what made the program special. In addition to offering students career-connected learning experiences and opportunities to build their leadership and employability skills, JAG Indy utilizes “Specialists”, who are located full-time in participating schools, to support students with ongoing career guidance. 

After having doubts about which path to take after graduation, Mendoza sat down with her JAG Specialist at Arsenal Tech, Dejanae King, to identify her skills and interests that could lead to a rewarding career. Having cared for animals from a young age, they explored related career pathways, with Mendoza ultimately applying for and being accepted into Purdue University’s Pre-veterinary Medicine program.  

In addition to the support that JAG students receive from their Specialist while in high school, they also receive regular follow-ups after graduation. “My JAG Specialist is very supportive, and I think the check-ins will help keep me accountable as I pursue my degree,” said Mendoza.  

Being named the Outstanding Senior for region 12, Mendoza will move on to compete for the top honor against the other eleven workforce development regions at the JAG State Career Development Conference in March.  

JAG Indy is a state-affiliated program, based on a national model, that aims to keep young people in school through graduation and provide career-connected learning experiences that will lead to career advancement opportunities, or enrollment in a postsecondary institution that leads to a rewarding career. Having recently expanded with new programs at two Marion County high schools and six Marion County middle schools in 2024, JAG Indy programs boasted a 98% graduation rate as well as a 75% full-time positive outcome rate, with the latter highlighting the percentage of students that entered full-time employment and/or further education. 

Click here to check out the full list of winners from this year’s JAG Indy Regional Career Development Conference.