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.

INDIANAPOLIS – 15 December 2021 – On Wednesday morning, EmployIndy and YES Indy gathered at the Finish Line Boys & Girls Club to honor over 40 young people who were recognized for completing the YES Indy Power Huddle program, a two-week job readiness experience where individuals learn how they can change their future trajectory as well as develop a variety of employability skills that will help them map out and work towards reaching their academic, career, and life goals.

Central Indiana is home to over 30,000 Opportunity Youth– young adults, ages 16 to 24, who have disengaged from secondary education or are disconnected from the workforce upon graduation. In efforts to re-engage Marion County’s Opportunity Youth and create a positive trajectory for these young people, EmployIndy launched YES Indy REC in 2018. Shortly thereafter, the Power Huddle was launched as the forward-facing program of YES Indy REC. Since the inception of the Power Huddle program, this is the largest cohort to have completed the program.

“The Power Huddle most definitely gives you more opportunities. The experience helps you understand how to be a good worker and with our mock interviews and other things we did, it helps prepare you for getting a job as well,” Said Jada Webster, an honoree at Wednesday's event and completer of the Power Huddle program.

Upon completion of the program, participants will be enrolled in YES Indy where they are connected to a career navigator who will offer support and guidance as they enroll in education and training or transition into the workforce. As a part of enrollment within YES Indy, other services are available as well, such as transportation, temporary housing, re-entry services, counseling, and more.

“The growth of the YES Indy network has been instrumental in ensuring we create opportunities to support young people in our community so that they can see a vision for themselves in the future and in the workforce,” said Angela Carr Klitzsch, EmployIndy President & CEO. “Adding the Power Huddle has allowed us to dig deeper with young people and help them realize their dreams and desires.”

In an effort to provide participants with additional pillars of comprehensive wellness, YES Indy launched a partnership with the Fifth Third Foundation through a grant award that expanded the Power Huddle curriculum to include Fifth Third Bank’s Financial Education for High School course as well as opportunities for High School Equivalency/Adult Basic Education courses as a result of their grant award.

“Through the great work of my colleagues and our many community partners, the Power Huddle experience is transforming lives in an inspiring way,” said Rev. Rodney Francis, Chief Programs Officer at EmployIndy. “We're seeing young adults come in on that first day nearly hopeless, with their heads hanging low, disengaged, disenchanted and disillusioned by their circumstances and lack of opportunities for their lives. But by the end of the two weeks, they are standing before the entire group smiling, heads up, full of hope and proudly presenting vision boards for their lives and futures.”

In addition to honoring participants who completed the Power Huddle program, YES Indy also honored a handful of Marion County youth who completed the EcoLogic Restoration Internship and programming with YouthBuild Indy.

Registrations are currently open for the next YES Indy Power Huddle cohort, which runs from Tuesday, January 18th through Friday, January 28th at the Finish Line Boys & Girls Club on Post Road. To learn more about YES Indy REC and the YES Indy Power Huddle , visit yesindy317.org/power-huddle.

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.

###

Apprenticeship Week in Indianapolis celebrates apprenticeship programs in conjunction with National Apprenticeship Week organized by the U.S. Department of Labor

INDIANAPOLIS – 19 November 2021 – Today, Major Joe Hogsett highlighted the second full week in November as “Apprenticeship Week” in Indianapolis. This week-long celebration, occurring annually and in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Apprenticeship Week, will be lifted up by stakeholders who strive to promote both registered and youth apprenticeships throughout Central Indiana. 

In particular, youth apprenticeships prepare students for their future by providing them with in-demand skills and relevant job experience so they can thrive in a fast-changing job market. These apprenticeships throughout Central Indiana have provided a model of success for introducing our future workforce to expanded career pathways. 

High school students who complete Modern Apprenticeship, a youth apprenticeship program, have the opportunity to participate in hands-on work experience that complements their traditional coursework, in growing fields such as business, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and information technology (IT). Afterward, they can continue on to a college degree or jump right into the workforce. As the cost of college continues to rise, youth apprenticeships also offer a rare opportunity to get paid to learn while reducing student debt.

“At such a time of transformation at every level of the economy, it is critical that Indianapolis youth have numerous and varied routes to finding a career,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Through programs like Modern Apprenticeship, we are creating pathways to good-paying jobs that go beyond traditional 2- or 4-year degrees. By recognizing Apprenticeship Week, we are highlighting those efforts while pledging further strides towards equity and opportunity.”

As job candidates need more skill-based, hands-on training to thrive in 21st century jobs, youth apprenticeships also give Central Indiana employers a new way to build next-generation talent pipelines as well as create a viable option for advancing commitments to increasing racial and ethnic diversity.

• Partner organizations and apprenticeship stakeholders throughout Central Indiana can celebrate Apprenticeship Week by accessing our media toolkit.

About Modern Apprenticeship 
Modern Apprenticeship was launched in 2020 by EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana for Indianapolis high school students to prepare them for the future in high-demand industries. This program is a three-year work-based learning experience with local employers, where students will emerge with a high school diploma, college credits, relevant credentials and professional experience. Learn more at: indymodernapprenticeship.com

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.