Close to fifty employers from eleven different industries joined EmployIndy for a sunny and warm outdoor career fair at George Washington High School on Friday, May 5.
Roughly 450 students ranging from freshmen to seniors circulated around the track, talking with employers, to learn about immediate and long-term educational and professional opportunities that are available in Central Indiana.
“It’s so rewarding to see all of these professionals get involved and engaged with students as they explore options for the next phase of their lives,” said EmployIndy’s Talent Bound Manager, Tressie Kaufman, who helped coordinate the event.
EmployIndy’s Talent Bound program partners with the local business community to provide career exploration and career-connected learning opportunities for young people that not only increase informed decision making and help them develop critical skills needed to succeed in the future of work, but also provides employers an avenue to be proactive in developing a talent pipeline for their organization.
EmployIndy encourages its business partners to engage with Talent Bound in multiple ways as it provides a wide range of ways to get involved, including: talent talks, talent prep, talent prep, talent mentors, talent tours, talent shadows, talent challenges, talent internships, talent apprenticeships, and talent hires.
Career fairs fall under the “talent day” umbrella, where employers or industry professionals can share information about a specific company, workplace responsibilities, and job skills in effort to allow young people to explore future career pathways.
EmployIndy caught up with two of the businesses participating at the event, Viant and Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBank Indianapolis) to learn more about what brought them to the career fair on a Friday morning.
Viant’s HR Generalist, Alexia Prokopos, said she came “to get the word out” about her company, as there is a concern about filling their talent behind upcoming retirees. Viant manufactures medical devices, and Prokopos emphasized that the company provides partial tuition reimbursement to employees who wish to pursue higher education and that it prioritizes internal development and promotions for their workers.
Meanwhile, FHLBank Indianapolis HR Generalist Emily Thomas described her institution as a “bank for other financial institutions” with about 260 employees in Indianapolis. She emphasized that tellers and financial advisors are not among those job titles. Instead, needs at FHLBank Indianapolis range from technical roles like computer engineering and IT to business and financial roles like business intelligence and risk analysts. Roles like these require bachelor’s degrees, but Thomas was also promoting the company’s internship program and said that she also just enjoyed talking with students and learning more about what they are interested in.
Visit www.talentbound.org/activities to learn more about the range of career-connected learning activities through which your business can begin to develop a new talent pipeline. To get started, reach out to our Business Partnerships at [email protected] or visit our team webpage to learn more.
INDIANAPOLIS – EmployIndy, Marion County’s Workforce Development Board and local workforce intermediary, is excited to announce its acceptance into the U.S. Department of Labor’s first ever cohort of the Job Quality Academy. The Job Quality Academy, designed and operated in partnership with Jobs For the Future (JFF), will provide EmployIndy the opportunity to build a greater understanding of job quality principles, how to incorporate them into their policies and programs, and develop methods and tools for assessing progress.
Good jobs are the foundation of an equitable economy that lifts workers and families and makes businesses more competitive, but many Americans lack work that provides them with decent pay, benefits, safety, or hours that allow them to take care of both their work and home responsibilities. These problems are even more pronounced for workers from historically marginalized communities and in certain industries, such as hospitality and the care economy.
The U.S. Departments of Labor and Commerce identified principles of a good job, which include equitable recruitment and hiring; benefits; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); empowerment and representation; job security and working conditions; organizational culture; pay; and skills and career advancement. A good job is one that helps workers achieve economic stability and mobility, while prioritizing diversity and worker voice.
“We know the Job Quality Academy will add even more momentum to our efforts around good jobs, that we’ve outlined in our recently launched three-year strategic plan as well as the implementation of our Choice Employers initiative,” said Marie Mackintosh, president and CEO of EmployIndy. “Marion County businesses will be competitive and thrive when they invest in job quality and wage equity practices, leading to an increase in the number of good jobs in our regional economy and more prosperous workers.”
As expectations on employers to offer quality jobs in Central Indiana are rising, EmployIndy has recently launched its Choice Employers initiative to help Marion County organizations find the right combination of actions to reduce turnover, offer a strong company culture, and be considered an ideal place to work. Through the Good Wages Initiative, a pillar of Choice Employers, EmployIndy has already certified over 70 local employers, representing 18 industries and nearly 25,000 workers, who have committed to increasing worker wages by $5.1M.
With the additional three pillars of the Choice Employer initiative including Culture and Diversity, Employee Supports, and Career Pathways, EmployIndy will utilize the learnings and best practices from the Job Quality Academy to strengthen and increase its impact locally.
Launched in Spring 2023 and set to span roughly 6 months, including two 3-day in-person summits in Washington, DC, the Job Quality Academy comprises up to 16 teams, including workforce boards, state workforce boards, state workforce agencies, and tribal organizations, representing communities across the nation. To maximize learning, EmployIndy has invited representatives from three local employer partners, B&W Plumbing and Heating, IEC-Indy, and UA Local 440, to join them for the duration of the academy. With construction industry roles in high-demand, EmployIndy’s Job Quality Academy team chose these partners in order to produce a template that is replicable throughout all industries.
INDIANAPOLIS – April 17, 2023 – This morning, Mayor Joe Hogsett, City-County Council President Vop Osili, EmployIndy, and community partners announced the launch of YES Indy’s new Re-Engagement Center (REC), located at Watkins Park. EmployIndy’s “Youth Employment System”, YES Indy, established the REC model to provide safe spaces where “Opportunity Youth” – residents ages 16-24 who have disconnected from education and/or employment – can participate in open gym basketball and get connected to career services.
“The more accessible we can make post-secondary education and employment, the more people will choose that path,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “By addressing significant barriers to school and jobs, the new YES Indy REC at Watkins Park makes resuming your education or professional ambitions easier for residents of the northwest side.”
In Central Indiana, there are an estimated 30,000 Opportunity Youth who are not engaged in education and or the workforce. Since the launch of the first YES Indy REC in 2018 at the Finish Line Boys & Girls Club, 2,476 young people have registered for open gym sessions, with 240 having been entered into the YES Indy system where they have received barrier-busting support (such as vouchers for child care, legal assistance, housing, or transportation), career services, and connection to education, training, and job opportunities.
“In alignment with our strategic plan, YES Indy RECs are a tangible way EmployIndy seeks to promote equity and remove barriers to quality employment for underrepresented residents,” said Rev Rodney Francis, EmployIndy Chief Programs Officer. “As the importance of postsecondary training has grown, coaching and connection to career services have become even more vital to navigate options and persist through to completion.”
A major factor in the success of the REC model, and in particular the Watkins Park REC, is EmployIndy’s work to build collaborative partnerships with community organizations. Through a partnership with Indy Parks and Recreation, young people now have a space on the northwest side to get engaged and reconnect to education or the workforce through YES Indy. And through neighboring YES Indy provider Flanner House as well as service provider Training for Success LLC, career services and support are nearby to help them take that next step in their professional journey.
“After having spent some time attending a university, and feeling it wasn’t a good fit, I found myself working several hourly jobs, with not much direction,” said Chance Blackwell, YES Indy Watkins Park REC participant. “Getting connected to Flanner House through the REC has been helpful as I look to pursue my EMT certification and use those skills to help others.”
Once engaged at the Watkins REC, young people also have the opportunity to enroll in the YES Indy Power Huddle, a two-week job readiness experience where they will learn to foster a growth mindset, as well as earn two Job Ready Indy badges: Mindsets and Social Skills. During the Power Huddle, participants reframe their view of their own future and are introduced to opportunities available through YES Indy, such as achieving their high school equivalency, working with a career coach, enrolling in training, and being connected to employment opportunities. Since 2018, 423 young people have participated in the Power Huddle program.
“By creating opportunities for youth to feel not only safe, but seen, trust is being built in spaces that systemically and historically have pushed them aside,” said Pamela Ross, Vice President of community leadership and equitable initiatives for The Indianapolis Foundation. “The result is youth who are more open, which allows the community to thrive.”
The YES Indy REC at Watkins Park will host open gym sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Residents interested in learning more about this REC location and available services are invited to attend a public open house on Saturday, April 22nd at 10:00 AM, that will feature a basketball tournament and the chance to connect with several local organizations, such as Indy Parks, that will have information on employment and training opportunities. For questions regarding the April 22nd open house, email Tawnya McCrary at [email protected].
Youth and young adults can learn more about YES Indy services or connect to a YES Indy service provider at yesindy317.org.
INDIANAPOLIS — Today, April 13, 2023, EmployIndy, Marion County’s Workforce Development Board and local workforce intermediary, announces the launch of a new three-year strategic plan anchored by its mission to guide the local workforce ecosystem and make strategic investments to promote equity and remove barriers to quality employment for underserved and underrepresented residents.
“This new strategic plan builds on the work of EmployIndy since 2016 to scale quality interventions that lead to economic mobility and is centered on ensuring equity for a diverse and skilled workforce,” said Marie Mackintosh, EmployIndy president and CEO.
These interventions include: Career-Connected Learning to prepare students for success in the 21st-century economy by providing real-world work experiences with local businesses to inform career choices and build skills; Coaching and Training to assist students as they persist through completion of postsecondary education and or training to obtain the specialized skills needed in an evolving economy; Talent Connection, creating efficiencies for both workers seeking employment and businesses seeking workers with individualized connection services in the job-placement process; and Good Jobs that allow businesses to be competitive and thrive in the global marketplace when they invest in job quality and wage equity for their workers to prosper.
EmployIndy will also engage in Advocacy that drives Systems Change to ensure sustainability of interventions that systemically address some of the root causes for equity gaps in educational attainment, in good and promising jobs, and for Opportunity Youth.
Accountability for this work and the impact on the community will be measured– disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender– by increases in postsecondary educational attainment and the number of available good and promising jobs, and a decrease in the number of youth, ages 16-24, who are disconnected from education and or employment.
“A key priority through 2025 will be to hold our organization and those with whom we partner accountable for embracing equity,” says Mackintosh, “Not simply as cultural values but as operational norms expressed through equitable hiring practices, job access, job quality, sustainable wages and health insurance benefits.”
To achieve its strategic goals, EmployIndy is implementing changes to its organizational structure that will help the organization grow efficiently and sustainably to achieve our strategic goals. The new structure is carefully designed to support the alignment of programs and initiatives in the teams needed to oversee the strategic priorities.
EmployIndy guides the local workforce ecosystem and makes strategic investments to promote equity and 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 over $20 million in public, private and philanthropic funds for both youth and adults annually. EmployIndy stands against all forms of racism – systemic, individual, and structural – as an anti-racist organization. Learn more at employindy.org.
On April 12, juniors and seniors at Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) had the opportunity to meet with local industry professionals, representing more than 40 companies in central Indiana, to learn about various employment pathways and career opportunities as they look toward graduation.
The Indianapolis Public Schools and Junior Achievement CareerIgnite Employment and Entrepreneurship Fair, supported by EmployIndy, took place at Arsenal Tech High School yesterday. The event was designed to provide all IPS graduating seniors who have identified “Employment” as their post-secondary plan with a pathway to success. The fair is the culmination of weeks of school-based curriculum, provided by Junior Achievement and taught by IPS staff, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in today’s business world. Students will develop a resume, perfect their elevator pitch, and learn the required soft skills necessary for modern success.
“Junior Achievement of Central Indiana is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all young people to own their future success,” states Jennifer Burk, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Central Indiana. “We are proud to partner with IPS, EmployIndy and the business community to build students’ employability skills, connect them with business and industry professionals, and support these young people in their journey toward future success and self-sufficiency.”
Prior to attending the employment and entrepreneurship fair, students participated in multiple activities in partnership with EmployIndy, including mock interviews and resume prep. They were also encouraged to research the participating companies.Studentsactively soughtentry-level posistions, apprenticeships, and job opportunities that each company has to offer.Some companies hosted on-site interviews for students who were looking to get hired immediately.
“EmployIndy works diligently to prepare students for success in the 21st-century economy by providing career exploration, engagement and experience opportunities within in-demand industries across Marion County,” says Betsy Revell, Vice President of Talent Solutions at EmployIndy. “Our organization is proud to support IPS and Junior Achievement with the CareerIgnite Employment and Entrepreneurship Fair as a way to expand postsecondary career options to seniors at IPS.”
Melody Coryell, IPS Executive Director of Postsecondary Readiness, notes that “CareerIgnite provides the essential opportunity for our students to connect with options for their futures, allowing for a smoother transition towards a fulfilling career that will allow students to pursue their dreams.”
Approximately 400 seniors from all IPS high school programs, including Arsenal Tech, Crispus Attucks, George Washington, Shortridge, KIPP Indy, and Simon Youth Academy, attended the fair.
See below for a full list of participating companies:
Accurate Personnel, Amazon, American Senior Communities, Automotive Apprenticeship Group, BYF-Indiana, CarDon and Associates, Crew Carwash, Crossroads of America Council, BSA – Exploring Career Program, Daystar Childcare and Infant Center, Early Learning Indiana, Ed Martin Automotive, EmployIndy: Talent Bound/ProjectIndy, Etica Group, Exploradoor, FAME: Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education, Fastenal Company, FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, Franklin Pest Solutions, Heritage Environmental Services, Howard Companies Asphalt Paving Company, IBEW 481, ICCA – Built to Succeed, IKORCC, Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, INDOT – Promoting Careers in Construction, Innovate Within, Ironworkers Union Local 22 JATC, LIFT Academy, LiUNA Local 120, MacAllister, Martin University, Metropolitan School District of Washington Township, Milestone Contractors, New Hope of Indiana, Peerless Pump, Pepper Construction, Peterman Brothers, Public Allies Indianapolis – Americorps, Seals Ambulance Service, Second Helpings, Serenity Care Services Personal Service Agency (PSA), Sheer Elegance Draperies, Blinds, and More LLC, STARTedUP Foundation, Stoops Freightliner, UPS, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Versiti Blood Center of Indiana, Won’t Stop Hospitality Inc, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis
As an organization that values professional development and upskilling workers, EmployIndy recently sent six of its own to the National Association of Workforce Boards’ (NAWB) “The Forum” conference in Washington, D.C.
According to the association’s website, it “represents and advocates for the nation’s over 550 Workforce Development Boards,” of which EmployIndy is one of twelve across the state of Indiana. Workforce development boards are federally funded entities that are tasked with supporting employment pipelines across multiple industries. As a registered 501c3, EmployIndy adds a concerted focus and emphasis on making strategic investments to promote equity and remove barriers to quality employment for underserved and underrepresented residents.
This year’s conference theme was “The Modern Workforce: Leading by Example. Led by Purpose” and featured sessions that ranged topically from engaging businesses, apprenticeship programs, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategies, social services and mental health, digital skills, using data effectively, and workforce storytelling.
“Any workforce development professional would benefit from attending NAWB,” said EmployIndy’s Development Director, Robin Kildall. “It gives its attendees a broad look at the way workforce boards are set up across the country.”
Two of Kildall’s colleagues, Tracy Murphy (Director of Business Partnerships) and Kristen Barry (Senior Director of Research and Strategy), presented at a well-attended session on “Cultivating Seamless Pathways Through Community Collaboration and Advocacy.” The discussion outlined what such a pathway might look like: from industry demand to student voice and class offerings with an eye toward career pathways and combined with wrap-around support services and a conducive policy environment.
The presentation offered an opportunity for the EmployIndy duo to talk about Talent Bound, an EmployIndy led program that connects Indy youth and young adults to companies and industries with talent needs for career education and work-based learning opportunities.
Murphy and Barry also emphasized EmployIndy’s recent role in putting together the Accelerate Ed“Blueprint for Cybersecurity” pilot. The program includes voices and players from government, the private sector, local nonprofits, and educational institutions all vying to produce the win-win of creating opportunity for under-represented youth to fill legitimate talent gaps in tech.
One EmployIndy partner in particular, TechPoint, has been bringing attention to this challenge with its ongoing Mission41K initiative, which encourages skills-based hiring as a method for diversifying tech workplaces and growing the Indiana tech workforce as a whole.
Problem-solving at this magnitude and level of collaboration is what workforce development is all about. If you would like to learn more about an EmployIndy led program or initiative, or you’re interested in collaborating with EmployIndy in the workforce development space, reach out to our Business Partnerships team at [email protected] or visit https://employindy.org/business-partnerships to learn more.
EmployIndy remains saddened by the passing of Dr. Mechelle Polter, Senior Director of its Talent Bound program—which she largely created—on Wednesday, March 22nd. To add to the shock of such an unexpected loss, Mechelle (she preferred for people to not call her Dr. Polter) had been in a Microsoft Teams meeting with many of her teammates that very day, before she experienced unexpected health complications in her home.
In the shock and grief of the next few days, and as stories got told about cats and birthday parties and wine tastings and Mechelle’s humor and love for plants and the fortitude it takes to complete a Ph.D. over six years while also mothering and working full-time, one thing was clear: there was no shortage of people who would line up to talk about their interactions with, and affection for, Mechelle.
“What can I not say about Mechelle?” Associate Director of Talent Bound, Matt Simpson, said. “She was my mentor, my friend, my go-to for everything work-based learning, for family and faith and life in general. She was knowledgeable about so many things and so humble. We had some similarities in life’s hardships, and I saw how she had overcome those challenges while never forgetting where she came from.”
As Talent Bound Manager Tressie Kaufman recalled evenings spent wandering through art galleries on “First Fridays” with Mechelle, she noted that even when Mechelle was away from work, she still loved to brainstorm about and set goals for Talent Bound. But that doesn’t mean Mechelle cared only about work, and she had a way of making the people around her feel seen. “She knew a lot of people,” Kaufman observed, “and I’ll never forget how valued she made me feel when she introduced me to some of those people.” Kaufman also added that one of Mechelle’s favorite questions was “How can I help?”
Mechelle loved her work but also loved to play, as seen here at the Talent Bound team’s 2022 holiday outing.
Coworkers outside of Mechelle’s Talent Bound team also noticed her efforts to make others feel welcome, through her seat on EmployIndy’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Affinity Group. In this role, Mechelle was faithful and wholehearted in her participation as the group planned events, created spaces, and set goals for how to make EmployIndy an organization where all people feel they belong.
And it wasn’t only Mechelle’s colleagues at EmployIndy who were affected by her mission-oriented approach to life and work. Mechelle has served since 2019—the same year EmployIndy hired her—on the Area 31 Career Center Executive Leadership Council. “She was committed to researching best practices and doing everything she could to advance opportunities for young people,” the center’s Director, Dr. Patrick Biggerstaff, said.
Sarah Koontz, from Horizon Education Alliance, interacted with Mechelle on the Indiana Community of Practice for Modern Youth Apprenticeships and agreed with Biggerstaff’s sentiment: “She was a quiet leader with a passion for helping students.” Noel Ginsburg from CareerWise USA added that “Her spirit will endure within this movement over the years and generations to come. We are endlessly grateful for her warmth, dedication, expertise, and countless other qualities she possessed and shared with all of us.”
Mechelle worked tirelessly to launch the Modern Apprenticeship program, alongside our team and partners at Ascend Indiana. “Mechelle was an incredible partner, thinker, leader, and friend to so many in the Indianapolis community. She believed deeply in opening doors to opportunity for young people and was a key thought leader and partner as we started the Modern Apprenticeship program,” said Stephanie Bothun, VP and co-founder of Ascend Indiana. “The Ascend Indiana team was constantly inspired by her work ethic and dedication to youth apprenticeship despite the many challenges that came our way. Our organization and our community are fundamentally better off because of everything Mechelle accomplished. We will miss her dearly.”
Fashion was among Mechelle’s many eclectic interests, so perhaps it’s not a surprise that she was aware of Pattern. The local magazine initially launched Stitchworks—a 501c3 in downtown Indianapolis that provides sewing training and certification to urban high school students—just before the pandemic shutdowns in March of 2020. The program had to pause almost immediately, but not for long, because Eskenazi Health needed 5,000 gowns, and quickly. One hundred fashion designers and hobbyists were hired for the task, and the partnership began to attract media attention.
This is where Mechelle got involved, in the fall of 2020. There was then, and still is now—like in many industries—a shortage of workers with the needed skillset. To hear Pattern Executive Director, Polina Osherov, tell it, Mechelle reached out through a website contact form. The two have met several times since then, including as recently as three weeks ago, to plan out and implement a Registered Apprenticeship program for sewers. “If it weren’t for Mechelle,” Polina said, “we would still be trying to figure this out three years later.” She described Mechelle’s loss as “a huge blow.”
Mechelle was amongst the inaugural members of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative to visit the White House last year.
The loss of Dr. Mechelle Polter is a huge blow, for her family and for EmployIndy, and for Indianapolis as a whole. May stories of her life continue to be told, even as they remind us of the gap the loss of Mechelle leaves behind.
A visitation will be held at Indiana Funeral Care on Allisonville Road on Friday, April 7, beginning at 4:00 p.m. with a funeral service to follow at 6:30.
Though eligibility criteria and application processes are still being formed, EmployIndy, alongside Mechelle’s family, will create the Dr. Mechelle Polter Memorial Scholarship fund. Interested parties can donate here. Her legacy to Indianapolis will be further recognized through the inaugural Youth Apprenticeship Employer award at this year’s Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity, renaming it the Dr. Mechelle Polter Youth Apprenticeship Employer of the Year award.
Indianapolis – March 1, 2023 – This morning, Mayor Joe Hogsett, EmployIndy, and partners kicked off the summer hiring season by announcing the 2023 edition of the Project Indy summer jobs initiative at the Skateland roller skate rink. Project Indy is currently offering over 2,700 available positions from 108 local employers on its online platform at projectindy.net, which makes applying for jobs easier than ever.
“For decades, Skateland has been a bedrock westside institution, and we are glad to welcome it into the Project Indy family of employers,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Since 2016, Project Indy has been an accessible route to high-quality employment for thousands of young residents.”
Project Indy was launched in 2016 by Mayor Hogsett alongside EmployIndy, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC), and the Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY). Since its launch, Project Indy has empowered nearly 15,000 young adults in Marion County by providing work experiences that build their employability skills and allow them to explore new career fields. During that time, nearly 300 employers have posted open positions on the portal.
Through Project Indy’s virtual platform that utilizes text messaging to recruit and onboard job seekers, youth ages 16-24 can get started by simply texting “Project Indy” to 317-659-9657. This easy-to-use online platform is a location-based tool that works to connect youth to nearby opportunities and includes an enhanced tool to filter by interest. Once registered, job seekers can easily apply to any of the hundreds of open positions by providing a few pieces of basic information.
By hiring in-school and out-of-school youth throughout Marion County, local employers can provide valuable job opportunities, soft-skill development, and job-readiness training. Additionally, the program offers employers, such as new Project Indy partner Skateland, the opportunity to create a talent pipeline for their business or industry and play an important role in training the future workforce.
“The majority of our staff are teenagers, still in school. Hiring them is an important part of their growth and helps them as they enter the workforce,” said Rodney Williams, General Manager at Skateland. “We’re always looking to hire new young people who we can train and we feel Project Indy is going to benefit us a lot in that effort.”
EmployIndy, which administers Project Indy, will continue promoting the virtual platform through face-to-face recruiting at Indianapolis-area high schools, targeted social media campaigns, and presence at local youth hiring fairs. In 2022, over 2,000 young people in Indianapolis were connected to job opportunities through Project Indy.
“Project Indy is one of many initiatives within EmployIndy that ensures both young adults and employers are prepared for the changing needs of today’s economy,” said EmployIndy President & CEO, Marie Mackintosh. “Through the online portal, young adults from all backgrounds have access to local employers. This helps them not only gain valuable work experience and develop their soft-skills but also works to build a stronger talent pipeline in Marion County.”
In 2018, EmployIndy, in partnership with Mayor Joe Hogsett’s office and the Indy Chamber, launched Job Ready Indy, an online employability skills program focused on providing the soft skills needed to succeed in the workplace. When an individual completes one of the online courses, a Job Ready Indy badge will appear on their Project Indy profile – notifying an interested employer that they are deemed by EmployIndy and the Indy Chamber as someone who demonstrates the “job-ready” skills important to the workplace.
Employers interested in hiring youth can sign up to be a Project Indy partner here.
A toolkit with social media assets and other materials is available here.
To speak with a young adult who has benefited from Project Indy, please reach out to Austin Jenness at [email protected] or by calling (317) 605-2742.
When considering the more-influential businesses in Central Indiana, one is unlikely to leave Cummins—designer and manufacturer of engines and other powerful technologies with more than 9,000 locations worldwide—off the list. Cummins’ Technical Education for Communities (TEC) Manager, Rick Hudson, has an interesting take on just what Cummins means to Central Indiana: “We can’t be strong as a company if the communities we’re in aren’t strong.”
The Cummins’ TEC program, which has expanded to 26 locations since its inception in 2012, aims to enrich the skills and strength of young people in communities around the world. The program gathers a coalition from government, industry, and nonprofit organizations to work together to provide technical work-based learning at local schools. The program boasts a graduation rate of more than 80%, and more than 70% of those graduates are quickly placed into technician job placements.
“EmployIndy is the first workforce development board that has ever had a logo on our list of partners from day one,” Hudson said. While Cummins had been familiar with EmployIndy from other involvements, he added that one immediate value that came out of his year-plus correspondence with Styles was the labor market information she provided, which demonstrated the need for more automotive and diesel technicians in Marion County.
It was also essential, according to Hudson, that Arsenal Tech already had a program that emphasizes automotive technical education. “The curriculum was already good,” Hudson said. What TEC will do is supplement what is already in place with buy-in from a number of local employers who donate equipment and additional expertise, while also conveniently serving as possible employment landing spots for students who complete the program.
Cummins does want to hire some of the students that come out of TECs, but they intentionally limit themselves to taking no more than 20% of graduates. This encourages and even necessitates participation from a host of companies that Hudson admits will include—in Indianapolis—one of Cummins’ top competitors.
For any employers who may come from a different industry but still possess an interest in developing a presence in high school and young adult spaces for the purpose of providing career education, work-based learning opportunities, and potentially building long-term employment pipelines, EmployIndy’s Talent Bound does just that. We are always looking for more invested partners, and you can reach out to a member of the Business Partnerships team to start the conversation, get your questions answered, and learn about next steps.
Jobs for America’s Graduates students prove employability skills to community leaders and employers at JAG Career Development Conference
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – February 17, 2023 – Yesterday, over 100 Indianapolis high school juniors and seniors met at Martin University for the regional Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Career Development Conference. Each student utilized the employability skills they have learned in their JAG classrooms over the course of the past year, competing in challenges such as chapter marketing campaigns, launching entrepreneurship plans, providing creative solutions, demonstrating critical thinking and employability skills, and more.
JAG is preparing students for the workforce by introducing them to not only employability skills, but by introducing them to different industries, employers, and work experiences.
“We are so proud of all the hard work our students have put into preparing for this day,” said Erika Cheney, Vice President of K-12 at EmployIndy. “JAG teaches students important career readiness skills that will help them succeed in the future.”
The Regional JAG Career Development Conference is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their skills, with the top individual from each competition qualifying to attend the State JAG Career Development Conference taking place on March 17th at Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center. In addition to recognizing these students’ successes, four individuals were nominated by their JAG Specialist as outstanding senior candidates, an award recognizing select high school seniors who have gone above and beyond in community involvement and are viewed as leaders among their peers.
“I will continue and further motivate others to join JAG and pursue their dreams and goals for their time in high school and moving forward,” said Michaela Ingram, outstanding senior from Decatur Central High School. Ingram was named Region 12’s JAG Outstanding Senior for 2023 and will compete for the top honor against the other eleven workforce development regions in the State.
This year’s keynote speaker, Marian University history professor and diversity and inclusion consultant, Evan Casey told students, “Don’t just accept what you have been told at face value. Dig, examine, investigate, challenge. That is what is at the heart of who we are historically as a nation and that is part of what JAG is trying to instill in you.”
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett inspired the young crowd with his remarks and took the time to greet students and congratulated every winner at this year’s award ceremony.
Special recognition to our Gold Level Sponsors, B&W Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Drains and PNC Bank. Thank you for your generous contribution and support of the Jobs for America’s Graduates program.
Indianapolis – February 8, 2023 – EmployIndy, Mayor Joe Hogsett, and the Office of Minority and Women Business Development are proud to announce the 22nd Annual Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Awards will take place on Thursday, April 27th at Ivy Tech Community College – Indianapolis. Beginning at 8 AM, the event will celebrate local employers who have excelled in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion and feature local leaders as they share insights, success stories, and best practices for fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
This event places a special emphasis on the importance of supporting youth employment in Marion County as proceeds go to support Project Indy, Mayor Joe Hogsett’s youth jobs initiative. Project Indy is a location-based job search platform that has connected over 13,000 of Indianapolis’ young people, since its launch in 2016, to employment opportunities near them.
Nomination forms for this year’s awards are now available. Submit a local employer excelling in one of the areas outlined below at: employindy.org/MCODNomination. All nominations must be submitted by March 31st.
Awards include:
Sam H. Jones ‘Best of the Best’: This award is named in honor of the Indianapolis Urban League’s first president, a tireless advocate for peace, justice, and racial understanding. An organization nominated for this award is recognized for exemplary performance in all aspects of diversity. In order to be considered for this award, employers will be expected to additionally fulfill the criteria of the Diversity in Leadership and Diversity in Workforce awards.
Diversity in Leadership: This award celebrates an organization who cultivates an atmosphere of growth, particularly when considering upper-level diversity as well as actively supporting a diverse organizational culture. This includes those who create and implement strategies to provide opportunities for all employees to feel integrated and valued within their workplace.
Diversity in Workforce: This award celebrates an organization who, in the past year, successfully implemented best practices to support workforce diversity. These employers promote opportunities that engage and recognize diversity within their place of business.
Excellence in Youth Employment: This award celebrates an organization who has shown a commitment to offering youth and young adults in Indianapolis the opportunity for that first job and embraces a culture that promotes the personal growth of those individuals through mentoring and advancement
Youth Apprenticeship Employer: This award celebrates an organization that is dedicated to providing high school students with a positive trajectory to actively pursue a career by providing valuable, paid apprenticeship opportunities that complement their traditional coursework.
Choice Employer: An organization nominated for this award offers all full-time employees a good wage of $18 an hour and benefits and embodies the traits of “Choice Employer,” by creating a work environment that focuses on supporting Career Pathways, Culture and Diversity, and Employee Resources.
Those who are interested in supporting youth employment in Marion County through Project Indy can donate online at https://employindy.org/connect/donate/. Select “Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Awards (Project Indy)” in the dropdown menu of the form. More information about Project Indy can be found at projectindy.net.
Marion County youths now have a choice when it comes to skills training. EmployIndy is launching a YouthBuildAmeriCorps Construction and Advance Manufacturing industries training and job placement opportunity for young adults ages 18 – 24.
YouthBuild Indy, in partnership with YouthBuild USA, AmeriCorps, Marian University, Martindale Brightwood Community Development Corporation, Training for Success LLC, and Turner Built Indianapolis, will be offering this 18-week training for those Marion County residents ages 18-24 who are looking to get construction training or earn their HSE/GED while being paid.
The Construction industry in Marion County is projected to continue growing over the next five years, adding nearly 700 positions to the already great need due to the replacement and retirement of existing workers.
Participants can earn up to $6,780 as well as their high school diploma or equivalency. Students will also earn an NCCER construction certification and may qualify for a $1,300 AmeriCorps education award, work experience and job placement.
The Construction training program will take place from March 20th through July 21st, 2023. Classes meet every Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 2 PM. An information session will be held on March 1st at 37 Place Community Center, located at 2605 E 25th Street Indianapolis, IN 46218.
Additionally, EmloyIndy’s YES Indy in partnership with Public Advocate in Community re-Entry (PACE), Training For Success, Marian University, Conexus Catapult and Ivy Tech Community College is sponsoring a 13-week Advanced Manufacturing training course, beginning on March 6th. Participants can earn up to $5,930 and a Catapult Advanced Manufacturing Standardized Work Training Certificate; they will also gain 6 Ivy Tech Community College credit hours, work experience and job placement.
The training requires a High School Diploma, GED, or High School Equivalency. Participants must be 18 – 24 years old, have six months or more of stable work history, access to transportation and want to pursue a manufacturing career. Advanced Manufacturing training starts with an orientation on March 1st and training will be held March 6th through June 2nd, classes meet every Monday through Friday at various times and locations. Limited spots are available for this training.
Roughly 450 students ranging from freshmen to seniors circulated around the track, talking with employers, to learn about immediate and long-term educational and professional opportunities that are available in Central Indiana.
EmployIndy encourages its business partners to engage with Talent Bound in multiple ways as it provides a wide range of ways to get involved, including: talent talks, talent prep, talent prep, talent mentors, talent tours, talent shadows, talent challenges, talent internships, talent apprenticeships, and talent hires.
Two of Kildall’s colleagues, Tracy Murphy (Director of Business Partnerships) and Kristen Barry (Senior Director of Research and Strategy), presented at a well-attended session on “Cultivating Seamless Pathways Through Community Collaboration and Advocacy.” The discussion outlined what such a pathway might look like: from industry demand to student voice and class offerings with an eye toward career pathways and combined with wrap-around support services and a conducive policy environment. 
Most program sites are abroad, but the latest TEC addition—Cummins’ fifth in the United States—is in Indianapolis. On January 23rd, 
