2022 Regional JAG Career Development Conference celebrates high school student’s career readiness and employability skills development

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – February 23, 2022 – Yesterday afternoon, the Regional Jobs for America’s Graduates Career Development Conference took place virtually, showcasing the skills that Marion County students have learned throughout their time in the Job for America’s Graduates (JAG) program. Jobs for America’s Graduates is a program for high school juniors and seniors that helps arm them with the career development and employability skills to be successful after high school – whether they choose to pursue a postsecondary degree, a credential or enter the workforce. This annual conference provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their career readiness skills, in a competition format, that they learn throughout the school year.

“We are so proud of our students who have worked so hard to build important career readiness skills that will help them succeed in the future,” said Erika Cheney, Vice President of K-12 at EmployIndy. “While we would love to be in person today rather than virtual, we know that this opportunity to showcase their skills is still so important to their development.”

During the 2021-2022 school year, JAG served 807 students in 15 Indianapolis area schools. Traditionally, the Regional JAG Career Development Conference would be a full-day in-person event, with over a hundred student participants demonstrating career readiness skills in front of dozens of volunteer judges. Competitions include critical thinking, financial literacy, employability skills, entrepreneurship, public speaking, outstanding seniors, and more.

“It is incredible to see the confidence and desire on display during this competition,” said Angela Carr Klitzsch, President & CEO of EmployIndy. “These young people are learning essential employability skills that will last them far beyond high school and prepare them to be a successful employee and addition to the workforce.”

Among the various competitions and student displays, this year’s event welcomed keynote speaker Flora Jones, Director of Student Pathways at the Indiana Department of Education, as well as a host of sponsors who made this event possible.

You can learn more about JAG Indiana by visiting employindy.org/youth-services/jag.

Gold Sponsors 

Indiana Army National Guard
PNC Bank
Verizon

Award Recipients

Chapter Brochure:

1. McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology

2. Ben Davis High School

3. Warren Central High School

Chapter Social Media Campaign:

1. Beech Grove High School

2. Ben Davis High School

Chapter Commercial:

1. Arsenal Technical High School

2. Beech Grove High School

Team Entrepreneurship Plan:

1. Decatur Central High School 1

2. Ben Davis High School 2

3. Decatur Central High School 2

Career Presentation:

1. LaQuera Williams, Southport High School

2. Nevaeh Smith, Shortridge High School

3. Michaela Ingram, Decatur Central High School 2

Digital Invitation/Cover Design:

1. Lisette Minera, Ben Davis High School

2. James Vann-Mincy, Jr., Crispus Attucks High School

3. Joselyn Mejia, Shortridge High School

Creative Solutions:

1. Larry Long, Decatur Central High School 2

2. Dekeem Sanders, Decatur Township School for Excellence

3. Kollin Sweeney, Ben Davis High School 1

Critical Thinking:

1. Amaya Henry, Shortridge High School

2. Elijah Reid, Decatur Central High School 2

3. Prince Ndahiriwe, Decatur Central High School 1

Employability Skills:

1. Grace Gill, Decatur Central High School 1

2. Clint Harris, Warren Central High School

3. Kayana Dickerson, Crispus Attucks High School

Financial Literacy:

1. Shaniya Stanford, Decatur Central High School 2

2. Hailey Wood, Decatur Central High School 1

3. Ciarra Searcy, Crispus Attucks High School

Public Speaking:

1. Kameron Durham, Shortridge High School

2. Sarah Bennett, Southport High School

3. Basra Isaack, Decatur Central High School 2

Writing Skills:

1. Amonn Burns, George Washington High School

2. Malachi Flournoy, Shortridge High School

3. Isioma Dumbili, Crispus Attucks High School

Outstanding Seniors:

1. Nevaeh Smith, Shortridge High School

2. Emily Baca-Stewart, George Washington High School

3. Sharon Oyatayo, Decatur Central High School 2

About EmployIndy
EmployIndy guides the local workforce ecosystem and makes strategic investments to remove barriers to quality employment for underserved and underrepresented residents. Our vision is for all Marion County residents to have access to services and training necessary to secure a livable wage and grow in a career that meets employer demand for talent. As the workforce development board for Marion County, guided by 24 business, civic, education and nonprofit community leaders, EmployIndy invests $25 million in public, private and philanthropic funds for both youth and adults annually. Learn more at employindy.org.

Through the integration of traditional education, skills enhancement, and innovative on-the-job experiences, EmployIndy is committed to connecting Marion County’s youth with local employers to maximize workplace exposure before entering the workforce. Our organization continues to scale high-quality, career-connected learning by utilizing a variety of collaborative partnerships, programs, and initiatives. One such partnership began in August of 2021 when EmployIndy received a $15,000 grant from Verizon to help connect Marion County students to tech-related opportunities and industry pathways.

This investment offers barrier-busting support for students who face inequitable challenges in accessing career services, such as transportation and food insecurity, and also supports programming for Talent Bound, EmployIndy’s work-based learning initiative. Talent Bound prepares Marion County’s young people for career exploration and engagement while providing opportunities for on-the-job experience and hands-on learning with local employers. The initiative offers targeted services for both Opportunity Youth– young adults, ages 16 to 24, who have disengaged from secondary education or are disconnected from the workforce upon graduation– as well as in-school youth, with programs such Modern Apprenticeship (MAP) and Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG). 

The Verizon investment provides an estimated 300 young people participating in either the continuum of Talent Bound activities or in the MAP and JAG programs with bus transportation, lunches, and program swag. This partnership has since extended to panel discussions, site tours, and speaking opportunities. On December 7th, 2021, four representatives from Verizon participated in a panel discussion at Arsenal Technical High School in which they provided an overview of Verizon, its products and services, future careers, and its commitment to supporting local, educational initiatives. 

“The Verizon panel was a great experience for students. Students learned that the company is highly diverse, comprised of many divisions, and future career opportunities are endless,” said Derrick Barnett, work-based learning coordinator at Arsenal Technical High School.

During the panel discussion, each representative shared their individual stories of both successes and challenges, beginning with high school and to the present day. 52 Arsenal Tech students– 16 seniors from Computer Science and 36 from freshmen Preparing for College & Careers– were present for this event. Students were very interested in part-time employment opportunities with Verizon; they were also able to network with the Verizon representatives over lunch. 

“This panel was a great way for students at Arsenal Tech High School to see the many different opportunities within a tech-related career,” says Matt Simpson, Associate Director of Talent Bound at EmployIndy. “The Verizon employees had varying levels of experience and unique professional journeys, and it was an excellent way to showcase the variety of career pathways available in the tech industry.”

The Verizon panel sparked even more potential opportunities for Verizon to engage with Talent Bound students, including mock interviews, resume writing, job shadowing, and possible field trips to the Verizon corporate office this next semester.

You can learn more about Talent Bound and its opportunities for partnership by visiting www.talentbound.org.

This initiative will help create a Community of Practice committed to learning and working together to increase support for students on the path to postsecondary education

INDIANAPOLIS – 26 January 2022 – Yesterday evening at Ivy Tech Community College – Indianapolis, Indy Achieves, an initiative of Mayor Joe Hogsett launched in 2018, brought together 20 educators from across Marion County to collaborate on the Community of Practice Planning Committee (CPPC), a six-meeting initiative to create a Community of Practice committed to learning and working together to increase support for students on the path to postsecondary education.

“I am eager to see the Community of Practice Planning Committee come together to support the goals of youth in our community,” said Angela Carr Klitzsch, President & CEO of EmployIndy, where Indy Achieves is housed. “The work that Indy Achieves and these dedicated educators do will be invaluable in providing students with the tools to be successful after leaving high school.”

Indy Achieves created the CPPC to jumpstart formal efforts to address challenges of postsecondary success, by bringing together highly qualified educators. To begin this work in Marion County, Indy Achieves invited schools county-wide to apply to the CPPC, offering grants to selected schools for investing into the effort of guiding our students to success after high school graduation. These schools will lay the foundation for an ongoing Community of Practice, a network which strives to have a collective impact on postsecondary attainment in Marion County.

“We are committed to helping each student achieve their aspirations during and after high school. We value the 21st Century Scholarship program and Indy Achieves and the many opportunities they provide our students. We are excited to be a part of the Community of Practice Planning Committee to learn and share best practices, identify barriers, and find solutions that will support all students in Marion County,” said Kara Moreland, College & Careers Administrator at Christel House High School on her school’s acceptance to the CPPC.

Indy Achieves received 21 applications from various schools throughout Marion County. Through the selection process, six high schools and four middle schools were selected to participate, each represented by a school counselor and/or administrator pair. An additional four schools have been invited to participate as observing members. The criteria for selection included past performance on 21st Century Scholars enrollment and Scholar Success Program completion, among other data points.

Through the end of the 2022 school year, six meetings will be held at Ivy Tech Community College – Indianapolis for these educators to share best practices and develop innovative approaches to address the needs of students and their families. Among these discussions, the meetings will also connect educators to resources from community-based organizations, Ivy Tech, and data tools to streamline their efforts. Upon conclusion of the CPPC, the committee will decide on a framework for a permanent Community of Practice to continue and expand their efforts.

“When you bring together individuals who are passionate about seeing all students succeed, it is a win-win! We are thrilled to have representation of districts across Marion County for the CPPC. The innovative ideals and processes that will come from the continued work of the Community of Practice will be key in the success of our students now and to come.” said Esther Woodson, Director of Indy Achieves.

The Community of Practice Planning Committee aims to set the groundwork for sustaining and further building the Community of Practice in 2023, supported by the efforts of local educators and Indy Achieves.

2022 Community of Practice Planning Committee members include:

Indianapolis Public Schools

Longfellow STEM Middle School
Jimmie Ellison, Counselor
Stacy Coleman, Principal

Shortridge High School
Andrea Harris, Counselor
Dennis Thomas, Principal

Mayor's Sponsored Charter Schools

Victory College Prep
Amber Walker, College & Career Readiness Teacher
Jenna Beck, Asst. Principal

Christel House High School
Kara Moreland, College and Careers Administrator
Paige Pittman, Principal

KIPP Indy Legacy High School
Randi Perry, Director of Counseling and Social Services

MSD of Lawrence Township

Lawrence North High School
Connie Sivertson, School Counselor & Department Leader
Brett Crousore, Principal

Belzer Middle School
Bonita Neal, Counselor
Lukas Muller, Assistant Principal

MSD of Perry Township

Southport High School
Briana Underwood, Counselor
Julie Fierce, Counseling Director

MSD of Washington Township

Northview Middle School
Molly Henry, Professional School Counselor
Jennifer Dodson, District Lead School Counselor, Grades 6-12

MSD of Wayne Township

Ben Davis High School
Sherman Woodard, Guidance Director
Rebecca Daugherty-Saunders, Director of College & Career Readiness

To learn more about Indy Achieves’ Community of Practice Planning Committee, visit www.indyachieves.org/community-of-practice.

About Indy Achieves
Indy Achieves is a program created by Mayor Joe Hogsett and housed at EmployIndy that aims to ensure that every Indianapolis resident has the ability to complete a postsecondary credential or degree program. To accomplish this, Indy Achieves seeks to increase the number of individuals who apply for existing financial aid programs such as 21st Century Scholars and FAFSA as well as provide Indy Achieves Promise Scholarships and wraparound support services for Marion County students who attend Ivy Tech Indianapolis and IUPUI. Learn more at indyachieves.org.

About EmployIndy
EmployIndy guides the local workforce ecosystem and makes strategic investments to remove barriers to quality employment for underserved and underrepresented residents. Our vision is for all Marion County residents to have access to services and training necessary to secure a livable wage and grow in a career that meets employer demand for talent. As the workforce development board for Marion County, guided by 24 business, civic, education and nonprofit community leaders, EmployIndy invests $20 million in public, private and philanthropic funds for both youth and adults annually. Learn more at employindy.org.