Students, teachers, district leaders, parents, and community partners gathered at Indianapolis Marriot East to participate in a full day of discussion and planning activities aimed at creating the district’s next strategic plan, with an intentional PK-12 college and career readiness framework. Focused on the journey of a graduate and using a community-connected approach, the career readiness framework will allow students to explore industries as well as engage in and experience the career pathways available to them.
As the convening organization, EmployIndy will support Warren’s implementation and transformation into this community-based initiative that aims to ensure that all Warren students are prepared for either enrollment, enlistment, or employment after high school. “We’re excited to play a big role in this partnership by ensuring Warren Township schools have the tools and resources they need to reimagine career-connected learning in their district,” said Erika Cheney, Vice President of Career-Connected Learning for EmployIndy, a speaker at the event. “Through our Talent Bound program, we’ll provide meaningful experiences and opportunities for students through our employer connections and work with industry leaders.”
In partnership with Central Indiana Education Service Center (CIESC), Warren Township and six other Indiana school districts were awarded an Explore, Engage, and Experience (3E) Grant from the Indiana Department of Education to partner with Ford NGL to implement locally driven, strategic career pathways for their students. Each Ford NGL community has a dedicated Ford NGL Coach, who supports and guides communities as they develop and implement a Ford NGL Master Plan to scale and sustain a career academy network and prepare students for high-skill, high-wage careers.
“As we consider the Next Generation of Learners (NGL), with a realization that current Kindergartners will graduate in 2036, what knowledge, skills, attributes, and experiences do ALL Warren students need that are critical to their future success regardless of what path they choose?”, said Doug Harter Districts 3E Grant & Community Partnership Coordinator.
As the workforce development intermediary, EmployIndy works to help students and residents grow in a career that meets employer demand for talent. As part of this work, EmployIndy supports career-connected learning initiatives to provide real-world work experiences that help inform career choices and build skills. Learn more about our 2023-2025 strategic plan at: www.employindy.org/2023-2025-strategic-plan.
A recent article by Whitney Downard in the Indianapolis Business Journal pointed out some disturbing trends for Indiana workers. Downard’s analysis was in response to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics showing that Indiana workers make about 83% of the national wage average, and that 91 of 92 Indiana counties fall under the national wage of just over $70,000 a year.
Marion County was the one Indiana county that came in slightly above the national wage average, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still room for improvement. During a recent lunch-and-learn session in June hosted by EmployIndy’s Business Partnerships team, twenty-five businesses joined Lora Steele, Director of Business Consulting, and Joslyn Cunningham, Senior Manager of Business Consulting, for a discussion about the Choice Employersprogram and specifically, the Good Wages Initiative (GWI). Representatives from Second Helpings, Barrett & Stokely, Franciscan Health, Visit Indy, Eleven Fifty Academy, and State Farm Insurance were among those who attended the session to learn more.
Started in 2022, the Good Wages Initiative is a network of more than 80 Marion County employers that pay their full-time employees a wage of at least $18 an hour and provide access to health insurance benefits. That current wage floor comes from a 2018 Brookings Institution report, Advancing opportunity in Central Indiana. In addition to the full GWI certification process (for which businesses can find an application here), there is also a “committed” path for businesses that are close to meeting program qualifications and need assistance in crossing that threshold.
After a wage increase for their employees, Newfields recently became the first organization to move from “committed” to fully-certified within the program, adding to the growing list of Marion County employers who have joined the initiative. Representing roughly 18 industries and nearly 25,000 workers, GWI employers have already committed to increasing worker wages by over $5.1M.
EmployIndy’s lunch-and-learn series will continue Friday, September 29th with a session focused on justice-involved hiring, aimed at providing insight regarding the training available to those leaving incarceration, the crucial role that wrap around services provide, and how to navigate the challenges of talent acquisition with this population. You can register for this upcoming session here.
To stay informed of upcoming lunch-and-learn events, or other ways to connect with EmployIndy’s Business Partnerships team, subscribe to their quarterly newsletter here or visit www.employindy.org/business-partnerships.
Participating students throughout Central Indiana sign a certificate of acceptance as they begin their three-year apprenticeship journey.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind (July 15, 2023) – EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana proudly introduced the third cohort of students and employers participating in the Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) at the 2023 Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett was on hand Saturday, July 15, recognizing the 34 Marion County rising high school juniors who have accepted positions with 20 local employer partners. Those students were able to meet their new employers and be publicly recognized during the 2023 Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event at Shortridge High School.
MAP is the highest-caliber experience offered through Talent Bound, EmployIndy’s career-connected learning continuum. This three-year program connects Marion County high school students with local employers, providing a path toward discovering passions and developing skills to help them thrive in growing and in-demand industries, including healthcare, information technology, education, business operations, financial services, and more.
“The Modern Apprenticeship Program has placed nearly 112 youth apprentices to date, with the goal of connecting 5,000 apprentices to employers by 2030.” says Marie Mackintosh, President and CEO of EmployIndy. “We are so excited to watch cohort three and each apprentice as they enter into this next chapter of their personal and professional life.”
This third cohort of 34 apprentices were chosen from over 462 applicants to participate in MAP. Beginning their junior year of high school, apprentices split their time between the classroom and the workplace—earning their high school diploma, as well as an hourly income, college credits, industry certifications and credentials, and first-hand, relevant job experience—multiplying their options after graduation.
“As educators, we work hard to encourage the early college experience,” said IPS Deputy Superintendent Andrew Strope.“Through MAP, we can take this commitment a step further by providing an associate degree and real-world experience with a local, quality employer, which can be a life-changing opportunity.”
As a talent strategy, MAP helps employers tap into diverse talent pools—building strong talent pipelines to meet both short- and long-term staffing needs. The program creates a structure for employers to be part of workforce solutions while removing barriers, so all Marion County students have equitable access to career-ready training and jobs in high-demand fields.
“Our Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event marks the beginning of the apprentice-employer journey as the students sign a formal certificate of acceptance for their positions,” says Mackintosh. “As part of this commitment, the employer will mentor and support the student as they navigate an in-demand role within their respective organization.”
EmployIndy, Marion County’s workforce development board, and Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), actively support the apprentices, employers, and general programmatic outcomes for Modern Apprenticeship.
6.Lah’Mya Kelly, North Central High School, Ascension
7.Denise Uwanjeneza, Ben Davis High School, Ascension
8.Sandrine Ishimwe, Ben Davis University High School, Ascension
9.Daniela Rojo-Vazquez, Ben Davis University High School, Ascension
10.Nayouna Maximilien, George Washington High School, AYS
11.Alexis Sammy, North Central High School, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP)
12.Ben Klein, North Central High School, Conexus Indiana
13.LeNiya Williams, Pike High School, EmployIndy
14.Darriana Carrington, Pike High School, EmployIndy
15.Friztjeena Jean, GEO Academies, GEO Next Gen High School
16.Caitlynn Faulkner, Ben Davis University High School, Indianapolis Airport Authority
17.Faith Ajibola, Pike High School, Indianapolis Airport Authority
18.Liliana Valdez, Ben Davis University High School, Ivy Tech
19.Jonathan Rodriguez-Aguilar, Ben Davis University High School, Ivy Tech
20.Olumuyiwa Akinbobola, Pike High School, Ivy Tech
21.Andrea Perez, Pike High School, Ivy Tech
22.Kayleigh Reyes, Pike High School, Ivy Tech
23.Brandon Zepada, Ben Davis University High School, Ivy Tech
24.Luis Cazares, Arsenal Tech High School, Lenex Steel
25.Atlantis Lynch, North Central High School, Lutheran Child and Family Services (LCFS)
26.Confidence Korrie, Purdue Polytechnic High School-Englewood, Lutheran Child and Family Services (LCFS)
27.Jasmine Gettis, Pike High School, Mattison
28.Natasha Borel, North Central High School, Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY)
29.Matthew Barthauer, Purdue Polytechnic High School-North, Plastic Recycling, Inc.
30.Kyla Epps, Beech Grove High School, RATP Dev
31.Jaylen Hill, North Central High School, Roche
32.Lynae Gude, North Central High School, Roche
33.Atziri Reyes, North Central High School, Roche
34.Da’Naya Freeman, Ben Davis University High School, United Way of Central Indiana
While recent unemployment percentages in Marion County are comparable to those seen pre-pandemic, unemployment and underemployment can still be a stressful experience for individuals in that situation.
As the workforce development board for Marion County, EmployIndy is committed to ensuring all Marion County residents have access to the services and training necessary to secure a livable wage and grow in a career that meets employer demand for talent. In spite of or incidental to macro trends in unemployment numbers, an EmployIndy initiative has had success placing job seekers who are feeling the stress of unemployment or underemployment at companies who need their talent.
“Wednesdays@WorkOne”, a free weekly hiring event at EmployIndy’s full-service center on Indianapolis’ east side, WorkOne Indy, has been boasting an average of nearly 100 job seeker attendees per week. These job seekers are taking advantage of the opportunity to network with the roughly 20 unique hiring employers who attend on a regular basis.
“Word is definitely getting out that we’re here,” Associate Director of Career Services, Bryan Spellman, said. “And we get a lot of returning employers.”
Spellman said that in 2022, the hiring event attracted a total of more than 3,000 job seekers and about 225 employers, which resulted in more than 1,000 hires, a number that gets reported back from attending companies.
In 2023, the hiring event continues to build upon the successes of last year. Just 6 months into the year, Wednesdays@WorkOne has already exceeded half of last year’s number of circulating individuals. It helps that about four new businesses are also showing up per week—at least one indicator that there are still jobs out there to be found—and at least 560 people have landed a job from their interactions with those employers so far this year.
The industries that are represented at the hiring event are impressive and diverse: from healthcare and transportation to manufacturing, maintenance, childcare, culinary, banking, and others. EmployIndy recently spoke with a couple of those employers about what keeps them coming back to Wednesdays@WorkOne.
Barrett & Stokely, a property management company with more than forty housing complexes across Indiana, has become a regular attendee. Talent Acquisition Specialist Carol Cashen said she tries to attend at least one Wednesdays@WorkOne per month in an effort to fill roles like Property Managers, Maintenance Technicians, and Groundskeepers. Interested job seekers can find a list of Barrett & Stokely current openings here.
Meanwhile, First Student Recruiter Kelly Woods also felt strongly about the value Wednesdays@WorkOne provides to her company. She said she has been coming every two weeks for about two years because of the number of applications—for Indianapolis Public Schools’ Bus Monitor and Bus Driver roles—she receives because of the event. The company provides paid CDL B training, and open positions can be found here.
EmployIndy oversees the operations of WorkOne Indy, an American Job Center, at 4410 North Shadeland Avenue on Indianapolis’ east side. The career services, training, and talent connection resources available to job seekers at WorkOne Indy uplifts EmployIndy’s strategic plan theories of change: Coaching + Training and Talent Connection. To learn more about EmployIndy’s commitment to scale quality interventions that lead to economic mobility, check out our recently released 2023-2025 Strategic Plan.
The Wednesdays@WorkOne hiring event is held every Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and is open to the public. No registration is required. Businesses looking to fill their open positions via this hiring event can receive registration information by sending an email to [email protected].
Nothing brings people together in Indiana more than a good game of basketball. When two teams tipped off the 2023 YES Indy Pivot League championship game at Mount Carmel Church in Indianapolis, the gym was filled with excitement as spectators were treated to a high-energy game. During halftime, EmployIndy’s Executive Vice President of Workforce Solutions, Rev. Rodney Francis, and District 14 Councillor, La Keisha Jackson, recognized this year’s sponsors for their support in elevating the Pivot League and local community efforts. The evening concluded with an awards ceremony where the winning team, representing the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE), was awarded a check for $3,000.
The YES Indy PIVOT League is an 8-week basketball league, first launched in 2021, designed to bring young adults into a safe place where they can build relationships and connect to services that help them move forward in their education and career. In Central Indiana, there are roughly 30,000 Opportunity Youth, or young people, ages 16-24, who are not currently engaged in education or the workforce. The mission of EmployIndy’s “Youth Employment System” (YES), and the Pivot League, is to create a positive trajectory for these young adults by getting them re-engaged and providing opportunities and pathways to prepare them for future success.
“The PIVOT League grew out of our Re-Engagement Centers (RECs), which offer open gym basketball as a workforce recruitment strategy to re-engage disconnected young adults,” said Rev. Francis. “It’s the only league primarily focused on improving players’ stats off the court.” To participate in the League, young adults must “pivot” towards engagement in education by enrolling in a GED/HSE program, college, industry training, or YES Indy, or by being connected to gainful employment.
“I signed up for the basketball league because I think my team can win it,” said Duran Lewis, Pivot League participant. “ I also recently completed a Power Huddle with YES Indy and I got some good life lessons out of it. It taught me to be myself, keep pushing, and most of all to be grateful. Right now I am in the YouthBuild program and I enrolled to get my GED through Edna Martin Christian Center at Martin University.”
One way that YES Indy helps to break down mindset barriers for young people, regardless of their history, is through 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. For young people like Duran, getting involved on the court through open gyms at a YES Indy REC or through participating in the Pivot League often leads to getting connected to helpful programs and services off the court, like the Power Huddle.
“The City League understands the power that basketball holds in our culture. We are excited to work with EmployIndy to bring high-level basketball to the young men of Indianapolis, while also helping participants get connected to people and training, giving them the necessary opportunities to move forward in life.” said Austin Taylor, Executive Director of The City League. As a key partner and organizer for the Pivot League, The City League’s reputation as a leader in organizing high-level basketball in our city has been an important asset as the Pivot League seeks to attract players and fans.
EmployIndy’s partnership with Mt. Carmel Church has also been a key component of the league as it seeks to create a safe space for players to grow off the court as well as on it. “Mt. Carmel Church is a church of the community, finding ways to demonstrate our love for God and our neighbor through education and socially, and financially empowering our community,” said Rev. Lola Bartlett, a Mt. Carmel Church staff member. “Working with YES Indy and The City League helps us in fulfilling our mission by educating our young men and providing them with a constructive place to practice being a team in the game and in life.“
The Pivot League would like to extend a big thank you to this year’s volunteers and organizations that make this collaborative league possible. This year’s sponsors include Finish Line Foundation, Training for Success LLC, Turner Housing, Mt. Carmel Church, EmployIndy, CAFE, FASTENAL, and Heritage Group.
The Pivot League will return in the Spring of 2024, but YES Indy RECs and The City League will continue to offer ongoing opportunities for young people in our city, through open gym sessions at the YES Indy RECs and other basketball tournaments throughout the year via The City League. If you’re a young person looking to get connected to employment services, visit the YES Indy website.
For Indianapolis employers or community partners who are interested in participating and sponsoring the 2024 Pivot League, please fill out the league sponsor form.
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 – 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.
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.
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.
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.
The registration deadline for both training courses is February 24th. Reentry and justice-involved are welcome to apply.
The Heritage Group is a fourth-generation, family-owned, Indianapolis company that manages a diverse portfolio that specializes in heavy construction, environmental services, and specialty chemicals. They also intentionally invest in the communities where they operate.
“At The Heritage Group, we think in generations, not quarters,” said Lucy Wehlage, The Heritage Group’s Early-In-Career Talent and Program Coordinator. “And young talent…is essential for so many reasons.”
Many EmployIndy programs are aligned with The Heritage Group’s focus on outreach to such talent, and EmployIndy’s Business Partnerships team was recently able to coordinate a collaborative meeting with their talent acquisition team and representatives from Indy Achieves and Talent Bound, both EmployIndy programs.
In 2018, Mayor Joe Hogsett and the City of Indianapolis launched Indy Achieves to respond to Indianapolis’ rapidly-changing labor market with the goal of ensuring that every Marion County resident can pursue and complete a postsecondary degree or credential. The program provides scholarship money to IUPUI and Ivy Tech students and connects them with employers like the Heritage Group for job shadowing opportunities, mentorships, internships, and potential job placement.
The Heritage Group’s Early-In-Career Talent Specialist, Lexie Seward, participated in an Indy Achieves event last spring and has maintained contact with some of the students she met there. “We are committed to mentoring and developing our early-in-career talent. We know the work we put into young professionals will make a difference in the future success of our company.”
Talent Bound is one way that EmployIndy connects Marion County students to a network of engaged businesses for career education and work-based learning opportunities. This is also, of course, a great opportunity for places like The Heritage Group to get in front of, and to spread awareness of their own brand, to high school students who are starting to think about post-graduation plans.
According to Matt Simpson, Associate Director of Talent Bound, “A lot of today’s students are interested in sustainability, so it has been good for some of those students to learn that places like The Heritage Group are trying to make those ideas and interests a reality.”
If your company is looking for innovative ways to engage with young and future talent, but is not yet involved with Talent Bound, reach out to EmployIndy’s Business Partnerships team, who would be happy to help get your questions answered and your next steps moving.
In partnership with Central Indiana Education Service Center (CIESC), Warren Township and six other Indiana school districts were awarded an Explore, Engage, and Experience (3E) Grant from the Indiana Department of Education to partner with Ford NGL to implement locally driven, strategic career pathways for their students. Each Ford NGL community has a dedicated Ford NGL Coach, who supports and guides communities as they develop and implement a Ford NGL Master Plan to scale and sustain a career academy network and prepare students for high-skill, high-wage careers. 
As the workforce development intermediary, EmployIndy works to help students and residents grow in a career that meets employer demand for talent. As part of this work, EmployIndy supports career-connected learning initiatives to provide real-world work experiences that help inform career choices and build skills. Learn more about our 2023-2025 strategic plan at: www.employindy.org/2023-2025-strategic-plan.
Started in 2022, the Good Wages Initiative is a network of more than 80 Marion County employers that pay their full-time employees a wage of at least $18 an hour and provide access to health 
MAP is the highest-caliber experience offered through Talent Bound, EmployIndy’s career-connected learning continuum. This three-year program connects Marion County high school students with local employers, providing a path toward discovering passions and developing skills to help them thrive in growing and in-demand industries, including healthcare, information technology, education, business operations, financial services, and more.
As a talent strategy, MAP helps employers tap into diverse talent pools—building strong talent pipelines to meet both short- and long-term staffing needs. The program creates a structure for employers to be part of workforce solutions while removing barriers, so all Marion County students have equitable access to career-ready training and jobs in high-demand fields.
In 2023, the hiring event continues to build upon the successes of last year. Just 6 months into the year, Wednesdays@WorkOne has already exceeded half of last year’s number of circulating individuals. It helps that about four new businesses are also showing up per week—at least one indicator that there are still jobs out there to be found—and at least 560 people have landed a job from their interactions with those employers so far this year.
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 
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. 
Many EmployIndy programs are aligned with The Heritage Group’s focus on outreach to such talent, and EmployIndy’s Business Partnerships team was recently able to coordinate a collaborative meeting with their talent acquisition team and representatives from