EmployIndy is working with Transform Consulting Group to develop a strategic plan to strengthen our region’s workforce. We are seeking input from community members to better understand the key needs and opportunities for Central Indiana’s workforce to inform this plan.
The survey should take no more than five minutes to complete. Your feedback will help to build a more skilled, equitable, and responsive workforce across Central Indiana.
After completing this survey, you will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 gift card!
To be included in the drawing, please include your email address in the comments at the end of the survey. Up to ten individuals who submit the survey will receive a $100 gift card.
If you have any questions, contact Megan Hershey, Project Consultant at Transform Consulting Group, at [email protected].
a message from our president & CEO—
As 2025 comes to a close, I am spending the holidays doing what I love most: time with my five brothers, four sisters, their spouses, and my 25 nieces and nephews. Being together, sharing meals, stories, and a bit of chaos, always reminds me what matters most in life.
Growing up, my parents and teachers identified early that service was in my heart. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what that would look like. What I know now is that service is less about a title or a role and more about showing up—listening carefully, acting with integrity, and committing to something bigger than yourself.
That belief is what led me to EmployIndy. It is what excites me most as we step into a new year together.
In my first months in this role, my priority is learning. I am visiting and listening to our community partners, employers, educators, and staff to better understand what’s working, where trust needs to be strengthened, and how EmployIndy can continue to be a reliable and responsive partner in Indianapolis’s workforce ecosystem. Alongside that learning, EmployIndy will be advancing our strategic planning work, clarifying our priorities, and aligning our resources to support equitable access to opportunity across our city.
A new year always carries a sense of hope and possibility. For me, this moment represents new beginnings rooted in trust. Trust that is built through transparency, collaboration, and a shared commitment to serving our community well.
I’m grateful for the work that has come before me and optimistic about what we can build together in the year ahead. Thank you for being part of this journey, and I look forward to connecting with many of you in the months to come.
EmployIndy has the privilege of supporting people in nearly every stage of their career, from young students exploring career paths all the way to late-in-career adults providing for their families, building stability and opportunity for our next generation. Our work is at the center of our community. The hope that comes with a new career opportunity—and the pride that comes with the ability to support yourself and your family—is a powerful mission we get to serve. EmployIndy is a connector and catalyst for the talent in Indianapolis, and I am thrilled to bring my perspective, passion, and experience as your partner in this work.
I am also incredibly grateful to Marie Mackintosh for her leadership, mentorship, and nearly decade-long commitment to EmployIndy. Her vision and steady hand have shaped a strong, values-driven organization, and I look forward to building upon the foundation she has helped create.
As I move into this role, my top priority is to continue strengthening the partnerships and relationships that make our work possible—across employers, community organizations, education partners, and residents throughout Marion County. Together, we will continue connecting people to purpose and removing the barriers to equitable prosperity in our community.
Thank you for your continued trust and support of EmployIndy. I’m excited for the work ahead and inspired by the impact we can create together.
Wishing you and your loved ones a warm and joyful holiday season.
Ken Clark President + CEO, EmployIndy
Image courtesy of Visit Indy.
INDIANAPOLIS – 26 July 2023 – EmployIndy, Marion County’s Workforce Development Board, is thrilled to announce that Ken Clark has accepted the position of executive vice president, finance and operations where he will lead all aspects of the organization’s financial, administrative, operational and human resources strategy, systems and protocols. In this role, his leadership will drive the organization towards operational excellence in service of EmployIndy’s strategic goals and efforts to serve underrepresented residents with transformational workforce development services that advance economic mobility.
“With Ken’s track record of optimizing financial performance, building high-performing teams and driving operational efficiencies, we’re excited to have him join the team and contribute to our important mission and vision,” said Marie Mackintosh, president and CEO of EmployIndy. Ken comes to EmployIndy from the City of Indianapolis & Marion County, where he spent over 3 years as the city controller and director of the office of finance and management. Ken has tremendous experience leading IT operations and finance in his previous roles, most notably chief information officer and chief financial officer at the Information Services Agency (ISA), including running IT strategy and operations that support the city’s departments as well as leading the restructure of the IT expense and revenue models. Ken’s work at the ISA earned the city and himself the Mira Award for Corporate Innovator of the Year and the IBJ’s CTO of the Year award in 2018.
“I am excited to continue supporting the City of Indianapolis in this new role with EmployIndy. Witnessing EmployIndy grow their services and support our community through the economic turmoil of the pandemic and subsequent recovery has inspired me,” said Clark. “I look forward to furthering their vision of preparing Marion County residents for the workforce to secure livable wages and grow in careers while meeting employer demand for talent.”
Clark joins the organization shortly after the announcement of its 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, grounded in four primary interventions: Career-Connected Learning, Coaching and Training, Talent Connection, and Job Quality. This plan will serve as the guiding commitment to Marion County while EmployIndy continues to be responsive to the evolving education, training, and career needs of the ecosystem as its workforce leader and intermediary.
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.
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.
INDIANAPOLIS — Today, February 6, 2023, EmployIndy, Marion County’s Workforce Development Board, has named Esther Woodson as its new executive director of Indy Achieves. Effective immediately, Woodson succeeds Matt Impink who has led the initiative since its launch by Mayor Joe Hogsett and his administration in 2018. Woodson joined EmployIndy in February 2019, most recently serving as senior director for Indy Achieves.
Indy Achieves is focused on closing the skills gap in Indianapolis by increasing the proportion of residents with high-quality credentials to 65% by 2027 and by eliminating the attainment gaps that currently exist for minority students. To accomplish this, Indy Achieves works to actively increase the number of individuals who apply for existing financial aid programs such as 21st Century Scholars and FAFSA, as well as provide Promise Scholarships, Completion Grants and wraparound support services for Marion County students who attend Ivy Tech Indianapolis and IUPUI.
Woodson, a native of Indianapolis, is a proud graduate of Indianapolis Public Schools and a 21st Century Scholar, attending Crispus Attucks Middle School and Northwest High School. She then went on to pursue her undergraduate degree at the Indiana University School of Journalism, followed by 15 years in secondary and post-secondary education in Indianapolis and will complete her pursuit of a graduate degree in Management and Leadership later this year. Today she attributes her personal and professional achievements to the 21st Century Scholars Program, along with a host of family, mentors, teachers and friends.
“Indy Achieves Scholars are the future workforce and leaders of Marion County,” said Woodson. “I am excited to lead Indy Achieves forward, working collaboratively with K12 and postsecondary to ensure all Indianapolis students, particularly minorities, have the education, experiences and resources needed to complete a high-quality credential that leads to good and promising jobs in our community.”
To improve access to postsecondary education, Indy Achieves processed 710 21st Century Scholars applications, accounting for roughly 19 percent of the overall scholars from Marion County in the 2021-2022 school year. To ensure postsecondary persistence and completion, Indy Achieves offers coaching services and scholarships that supported 199 graduates at IUPUI and Ivy Tech Indianapolis last year. This student success coaching model has increased postsecondary retention by as much as a13 percent over comparison groups.
“This year, as Esther takes the reigns, Indy Achieves will grow by half a million dollars in City funding,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “That will enable our growing program to impact hundreds of additional Indianapolis students, many of them traveling a path that Esther knows personally.”
Woodson has been recognized locally by several organizations for her commitment to education and community, receiving the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana Big Sister of the Year Award in 2015 and the Live United Volunteer of the Year Award in 2014. She was recently a finalist for both the Center for Leadership Development Minority Achievers Award in 2022 and the Inspire Awards “The Power of Mentoring” Youth Mentor in 2018. A member of The Father’s Heart Ministries Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Chi Chi Omega Chapter, and an active Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, Woodson resides on the west side of Indianapolis with her husband and two teenage sons.
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 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.
The worker voice is becoming more and more dominate in the decision-making process for businesses. The rise of Covid created a shift in how workers view jobs and which aspects of those jobs they find important. This is especially true for workers at the entry-level or “front line.”
Ritse Erumi and Martin Whittaker, in their recent Fortune article Americans know what they want from companies. It’s time to listen, summarize this shift in saying that “what the pandemic catalyzed was a fundamental shift in expectations for workers. With wage hikes over the past year failing to keep pace with record-high inflation, many workers are also feeling more dissatisfied.”
It’s for reasons such as these that EmployIndy is creating a Marion County Employer Resource Network (ERN), in partnership with ERN-USA. This national model was created first in Michigan and has been around for more than a decade, now spanning more than 10 states and with over 20 networks. It is a member-based program that serves the employees of the members who participate. Members are the companies themselves, and the cost of membership gives each employer access to a Success Coach. This Success Coach, which will be employed by EmployIndy’s ERN, is the designated “barrier navigator” helping individual employees navigate the external issues that impact their ability to come to work and/or do their work at their full potential.
In Indiana, Johnson County is the only other community that has an active program, and their employer members are seeing a lot of impact as the program moves into its second full year. Amanda Parkhurst with Endress+Hauser shared her motivations to join the program as a founding member: “As an HR professional, it’s difficult to be all things to all people, and we saw the ERN as an extension of our benefits offered to employees. The ERN allows for focused time to be spent on and with employees with an emphasis on finding resources for their specific needs.”
So, what happens after membership? And what is the real impact? Melissa Dewey from GMI, a local manufacturer, shared one such story. One employee at GMI had been struggling to get to work on time, to the point where it was affecting the person’s performance. Dewey knew the person was a good employee. The employee met with Johnson County’s ERN Success Coach, and the details of the tardiness came out. The staff member had a parent who did not have a drivers license. The parent needed to be taken to work regularly and this was causing the tardiness. The Success Coach was able to dig deeper and learn that the parent also didn’t speak English as a first language, which was contributing to the challenge of earning a driver’s license. But with some intervention and resource referring, the parent was able to pass a drivers test and was then able to drive to work every day. The GWI staff member was retained, and with the original need met, tardiness was no longer a problem.
This is just one example. When we factor in the cost of turnover, one employee saved is literally worth thousands of dollars for a business. ERN-USA puts the current return on investment of their services at more than 700% (from the organization’s latest annual report). And in addition to retention, ERNs can have positive impacts on employer recruitment, with many employers packaging the ERN membership as an addition to their employee benefits.
If you’re a Marion County business that’s struggling with worker retention, let’s talk about how to lighten your own load by investing in future satisfied employees. To learn more, reach out to EmployIndy’s business partnerships at [email protected] and they can help get your organization on the right path to better employee retention.
INDIANAPOLIS — Today, October 11, 2022, EmployIndy, Marion County’s Workforce Development Board, has named Marie Mackintosh as its new president and CEO. Effective immediately, Mackintosh succeeds Angela Carr Klitzsch who has led the organization under Mayor Joe Hogsett and his administration since June 2016. Mackintosh joined EmployIndy alongside Carr Klitzsch in June 2016 when she was appointed as the chief operating officer, most recently serving as the organization’s chief strategy officer.
“An Indianapolis native, Marie is keenly aware of the challenges residents face accessing good jobs in a post-pandemic economy with disproportionate opportunity,” said Mayor Hogsett. “She brings deep and valued relationships with key community stakeholders, officials, employers and funders who will pursue thoughtful and equitable workforce solutions for our community.”
Most recently, Mackintosh has led implementation of pivotal investments to improve the local workforce ecosystem, including talent development strategies aimed at addressing systemic barriers for employers and job seekers, including the New Skills Ready Network, Modern Apprenticeship, Talent Bound and Rapid Re-Employment Response. These integrated investments are aimed at ensuring students and job seekers have equitable postsecondary options – informed through career-connected learning – that offer economic mobility through good jobs and good wages, providing a diverse and well-prepared talent pool for Indianapolis employers to grow and thrive.
“I am incredibly proud of innovative solutions that EmployIndy and its partners have created for employers and workers alike during my first six years at EmployIndy,” said Mackintosh, “but our most important work continues to be ensuring a diverse and skilled workforce has equitable access to economic mobility through good jobs.”
In Marion County, the median income of white households is almost twice that of Black households, affirming that all opportunities are not created equal and that a concerted effort must continue to ensure we are building up our communities, households, and residents of color. From July 2021 to June 2022, EmployIndy assisted 50,000 Indianapolis residents, and of those who self-identified, 75% were people of color.
“New EmployIndy initiatives like Choice Employers and Good Wages are helping employers implement hiring and employment practices that will close this opportunity gap as job access, performance, satisfaction, and retention improve,” said Jay Styles, senior director, business partnerships. “Job quality boosts talent attraction in a big way and has currency when filling skilled positions.”
The Good Wages Initiative certifies, celebrates, and showcases Marion County employers that have voluntarily committed to providing full-time employees with a living wage – $18 per hour – and health insurance benefits, and is a recommended hiring and promotions strategy of Business Equity for Indy. Launched just this year, 58 local employers, representing 18 industries and over 23,400 workers are already committed to increasing worker wages by $4.2 million annually.
“As a Good Wages employer with a commitment to equity, EmployIndy sets the highest equity standards for itself as an employer in our community,” said Aman Brar, EmployIndy board chair. “In her new position, Marie will continue to drive thoughtful and equitable solutions through data- and partner-informed processes that further our goal of increasing access.”
Mackintosh brings over 20 years of relevant experience to this role, having worked immediately prior to EmployIndy in various leadership roles at the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, in marketing at a global manufacturer, and in advising and program development at Butler and Depauw universities, respectively. She holds an MBA from Butler University and a BA from Indiana University, she was named one of Indy’s Best and Brightest in 2017 and has served on committees and boards convened by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Indy Chamber, Ascend Indiana, Business Equity for Indy, Far Eastside Collective Impact Council, Thomas Gregg Neighborhood School, and IndyFringe.
All 6 badges will now be accessible online, for completion at individual’s own desired pace
INDIANAPOLIS – 7 February 2022 – To increase access for all Marion County residents regardless of age or experience level, Job Ready Indy (JRI) will launch its curriculum online on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. The online Job Ready Indy curriculum, an employability skills badging system, expands the scope beyond the original in-person programming.
Job Ready Indy was developed in collaboration with Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s office, EmployIndy, the Indy Chamber, and various employers and community organizations from across Marion County. Since its launch in 2018, JRI has served over 3,100 participants through employability skills curriculum, intensive in-person discussions, and comprehensive enrichment activities.
“The expansion of the Job Ready Indy curriculum to an online format will allow all Marion County residents, not just young people, the opportunity to utilize this critical resource,” said Mayor Hogsett. “By increasing the number of residents equipped with fundamental skills to enter the workforce, we’re boosting the talent pool for employers and growing our local economy.”
Starting February 15, participants can earn each of the 6 JRI badges, learn new skills, and enhance their overall career competency through online interactive courses on EmployIndy’s Learning Hub. Participants can engage with the JRI courses on their own or through a trained JRI Provider. The badge courses are accessed through a personalized login and can be completed on a computer or mobile device at the individual’s desired pace. Badges are digitally awarded and automatically displayed on participants’ Learning Hub profile or Project Indy profile (if applicable). They can also be downloaded as a transcript and added to participants’ professional portfolio, listed on their resume, or shared directly with employers.
This expanded version also includes updated skills within each of the six badges, aligning with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s (DWD) own shift in employability skills definitions.
“No matter how much workplace experience a person may have, the expanded online curriculum helps build and enhance durable competencies needed to take their career to the next level,” said EmployIndy President & CEO, Angela Carr Klitzsch, “Employers can continue to hire Job Ready Indy participants with confidence, knowing that they have the foundational employability skills needed for today’s workplace.”
Additionally, EmployIndy has developed optional, in-person one-on-one or small group activities for JRI providers to lead participants in. These supplemental activities dive deeper into the online content of each badge, promoting relationship-building and allowing providers to give hands-on support to each participant.
A virtual informational session will be held on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, from 9:00-10:00 AM for existing JRI Providers and members of the EmployIndy Ecosystem who are interested in becoming a JRI Provider for the first time. This info session will outline new content and the online delivery method, as well as walk through what both providers and participants can expect from this experience. Registration for the virtual information session can be found here.
To learn more about Job Ready Indy or to access participant or provider information, visit www.jobreadyindy.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 $25 million in public, private and philanthropic funds for both youth and adults annually. Learn more at employindy.org.
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. Basic financial education is a need that often goes unmet for this group of individuals, making progress and stability difficult for themselves and their families. Due to being disengaged and disconnected, accessing basic financial education is often difficult or sometimes impossible.
Thanks to a partnership between Fifth Third Bank and YES Indy, however, Opportunity Youth now have an avenue through which they can access basic financial education, by participating in the YES Indy Power Huddle program. 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, a two-week job readiness experience that helps Opportunity Youth get connected and improve their daily mindsets, was launched as the forward-facing program of YES Indy REC.
The Power Huddle supports overall YES Indy efforts by teaching young people ways in which they can change their future trajectory as well as engage in a variety of employability skills that will help them map out and work towards reaching their academic, career, and life goals. With a growing inventory of both experience and participation, the YES Indy team sought to expand the Power Huddle curriculum to include additional pillars of comprehensive wellness. The two-week intensive is already designed to focus on mindfulness, character, purpose, resilience, visioning, time management, work ethic, and learning strategies, but financial education as a key component of sustainable livelihood was missing.
To address the need for financial education within this population, YES Indy’s Power Huddle was financially assisted by the Fifth Third Foundation through a grant award in partnership with EmployIndy. This investment will allow YES Indy to integrate Fifth Third Bank’s Financial Education for High School course into our Power Huddle programming. Additionally, participants without a High School Diploma or Equivalency will go through High School Equivalency/Adult Basic Education courses.
“Fifth Third Bank is excited to partner with EmployIndy and integrate the Bank’s financial education for high school students through their Power Huddle program. We are committed to deepening the financial resources and education throughout the communities in which we live and serve, and EmployIndy is a great partner in making this vision come to life.” said Nashelle Frazier, Community and Economic Development Manager at Fifth Third.
In September of 2021, the Power Huddle incorporated a new program practitioner, Tawnya McCrary, a consultant with Training for Success, LLC., who has numerous years of experience in working with Opportunity Youth. Fifth Third Bank’s investment will allow the Power Huddle service provider to add one part-time employee, a Financial Education Coordinator, to facilitate the course as well as identify participants who will benefit from this opportunity and connect them to enrollment. Funding will be utilized to provide a $200 Earn ‘n’ Learn stipend as an incentive for each individual who completes the Power Huddle successfully, and an additional $100 deposit for completing the Financial Academy course.
Based on a Power Huddle cohort from 2019, the goals of implementing this grant from Fifth Third Bank are as follows:
Out of the 60 Opportunity Youth participants enrolled in this experience. . .
75% will complete Power Huddle and Job Ready Indy Badges (45 Opportunity Youth participants)
50% will gain skills in basic reading and math (30 Opportunity Youth participants)
25% will earn a High School Equivalency credential (15 Opportunity Youth participants)
75% will complete Financial Literacy Education (45 Opportunity Youth participants)
75% of participants without a bank account will create one (45 Opportunity Youth participants)
The project will immediately be implemented from the award date for 12 months, from November 1, 2021, to October 31, 2022. During this grant period, 6 cohorts of 10 students (60 participants total) will attend Power Huddle sessions, with each cohort lasting two weeks, Monday through Friday. Short-term outcomes include Opportunity Youth gaining knowledge of financial wellness, improved workplace readiness skills, and barriers reduced to education and employment. The long-term impact of this programming includes a positive youth trajectory, a better workforce ecosystem, and a reduction in the regional poverty rate.
The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Fifth Third Foundation.
EmployIndy and Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House on Tuesday, October 5th in celebration of Indy Achieves’ new offices at Ivy Tech’s downtown campus (50 W. Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive).
This event recognized the third year of Indy Achieves’ partnership with Ivy Tech Community College as well as the opening of the Indy Achieves Student Center at Ivy Tech Indianapolis. Indy Achieves is Mayor Joe Hogsett’s response to Indianapolis’ rapidly changing labor market by ensuring that every Indianapolis resident has the ability to both pursue and complete a postsecondary credential or degree program. Eligible new students or former Ivy Tech and IUPUI students with an outstanding balance in Marion County can utilize Indy Achieve’s wraparound services to earn a credential or degree.
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony began at 10:45 AM with opening remarks from Indy Achieves’ Leadership Team, including Matt Impink, VP Postsecondary and Executive Director of Indy Achieves at EmployIndy, and Esther Woodson, Director of Indy Achieves.
“We are thrilled to open the Indy Achieves Student Center at Ivy Tech. Over this past year, we were able to award 341 Promise Scholarships and 154 Reconnect Completion Grants to Ivy Tech students as well as grow our number of onsite student success coaches,” said Matt Impink. “This space will not only support students to complete at Ivy Tech but provide supports for career connection as well.”
The opening remarks were followed by an address from Ivy Tech Indianapolis Chancellor, Dr. Lorenzo Esters. Of the impactful services that Indy Achieves offers students, Dr. Esters noted, “The success of Indy Achieves at Ivy Tech has been life-changing for our students.” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett was also a keynote speaker at the celebration, sharing his pride for the program and of the achievements that students have accomplished with help from Indy Achieves.
“Since we created the Indy Achieves program in 2018, the importance of its original motivation has only heightened,” said Mayor Hogsett. “By providing more residents with accessible routes to complete post-secondary education, we are promoting equity and opportunity at a critical time. Today’s Ribbon Cutting renews that central ambition while marking the continued progress and expansion of this vital program.”
Indy Achieves student, Adriyanna Staten, and Ivy Tech Indianapolis Student Government Association President and Indy Achieves student, Tapiwa Mzumara, also gave testimonies to the impact of Indy Achieves on their personal lives and professional careers. After beginning her post-secondary education in 2013, Mzumara had to put her education on hold while caring for her chronically ill mother, dealing with financial hardships, and working to become a DACA recipient. She found herself with an outstanding balance and no way to pay it, forcing her to not return to Ivy Tech the following Spring Semester.
In 2019, Mzumara was informed of Indy Achieves’ Completion Grantwhile working in retail to make ends meet. Marion County residents may apply for a completion grant to cover unpaid bursar bills or other substantial debts preventing students from continuing their postsecondary education. Upon receiving a Completion Grant, Mzumara was able to return to Ivy Tech Community College and continue pursuing her degree in Biotechnology. “Tapiwa has shared that this grant changed the trajectory of her life,” Esters added. “We are so proud of everything she and all Indy Achieves recipients have accomplished.”
The new offices remained open following the ribbon cutting, allowing students to see the new space and connect with Ivy Tech and Indy Achieves representatives. You can check out WISH-TV’s news coverage of this event to learn more.
Ken L. Clark
“With Ken’s track record of optimizing financial performance, building high-performing teams and driving operational efficiencies, we’re excited to have him join the team and contribute to our important mission and vision,” said Marie Mackintosh, president and CEO of EmployIndy. Ken comes to EmployIndy from the City of Indianapolis & Marion County, where he 
It’s for reasons such as these that EmployIndy is creating a Marion County 
To address the need for financial education within this population, YES Indy’s Power Huddle was financially assisted by the Fifth Third Foundation through a grant award in partnership with EmployIndy. This investment will allow YES Indy to integrate Fifth Third Bank’s Financial Education for High School course into our Power Huddle programming. Additionally, participants without a High School Diploma or Equivalency will go through High School Equivalency/Adult Basic Education courses. 
This event recognized the third year of Indy Achieves’ partnership with Ivy Tech Community College as well as the opening of the 
