WorkOne Indy staff members serve a wide variety of audiences and this week the focus was on veterans. At the JVSG Veterans Conference, Career Navigators and Service Providers from all over the state gathered to learn more about best practices, programs, and tools available to better assist this population. Many of these individuals have served in the armed forces and have passion in their hearts to help other veterans take the next steps to navigate back into the workforce.
“With every military person that I have come across, there is a sense of commitment and dedication to whatever they are working on at the time.” – DWD Commissioner Fred Payne
Darrell Johnson, Commissioner Payne, and Joshua McDonald
A major point of discussion revolved around the importance of partner organizations working together to invest in these individuals and continue to grow the numbers of veterans served, especially amongst this time where employers are actively seeking individuals with a wide variety of training and qualifications. There were several staff members from service providers who were recognized throughout the state as individuals who excel in this practice, and two of them were from Region 12 (Marion County): Joshua McDonald and Darrell Johnson.
Joshua was one of five recipients of the “Annual Performance Incentive Award,” recognized for his “never take no for an answer” approach and his work in exceeding expectations by reaching out to other organizations in order to retain positions and “going above and beyond” to connect with veterans.
Darrell was given the “Service Provider of the Year Award,” a state-wide award for one individual who excels at work, actively honors all veterans, and “raises the bar” for team members. Darrell has been called upon to share his experience serving veterans and his passion for this population far exceeds job requirements.
EmployIndy is so proud to have WorkOne Indy staff members who go above and beyond to serve the residents of Marion County. With the goal of breaking down barriers for all individuals and providing opportunities and connections so that they can take the next step in their career, service providers and career navigators are the individuals on the front lines who are making things possible.
This recognition is well deserved and the hope is this success will continue to grow as WorkOne Indy services expand into different areas throughout Indianapolis, such as libraries, adult education centers, and Ivy Tech, in order to serve more residents.
WorkOne Indy staff gathered today to reflect on a year of service to Marion County residents, taking time that is normally used for enrichment and teamwork to for a celebration that was both enriching and unifying.
Staff members voted for their peers in four categories to recognize achievement in categories that identified excellence in behind-the-scenes support, positive attitude, professional growth, and overall excellence. Winners were recognized with their nominations read aloud for the group for traits like customer service with complex clients, problem-solving through tricky situations, and their willingness to support colleagues with new ideas and friendly support.
Tori Robinson, a RES Operations Supervisor and winner of the “Brightest Star” award, spoke of one of her clients who was struggling – going through ABE classes to brush up on skills while also dealing with an abusive relationship. “Every time she came in I encouraged her to continue to apply to jobs, and keep faith,” Tori said. “Weeks later, instead of her coming in with the frown, she came into the office with a big smile just to say that she now found her dream job!”
Tori cited compassion – especially for difficult clients who find success – as a key motivator that drives staff when working daily to help people with their career.
“These sort of events are not just about recognizing hard work – they bring staff together in a way that builds chemistry and understanding so that our staff identify as a team with a common goal.”
Penny Dunning, EmployIndy’s Director of Career Services
As EmployIndy has guided WorkOne Indy to lean into a service model that stresses consistency, staff are encouraged to learn from each other and identify best practices for career navigation of clients. This concept is expanding beyond the walls of the WorkOne Indy offices and into numerous organizations around Indianapolis as EmployIndy continues to build relationships with community partners to regularly house WorkOne Indy staff in places like libraries, Ivy Tech, and adult education providers.
With EmployIndy acting as the central guide and intermediary of Indy’s entire workforce ecosystem, this idea of sharing and recognizing efforts goes beyond WorkOne Indy. Best practices are being identified between service providers, programs, and community partners across the ecosystem – and EmployIndy has developed Ecosystem Enrichment meetings and the Employing Indy newsletter to share these valuable ideas.
But today it was about WorkOne Indy staff like Tori, who earned her award for her willingness to try new ideas and encourage coworkers to innovate. “We all work hard,” she said, “and knowing that we are consciously identifying and learning from each other’s accomplishments is important to help us feel like a cohesive unit.”
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – November 20, 2018 – Today nine young adults completed a training program that gives them the power and the tools to change their lives. The Pivot Re-Engagement Center, a partnership between EmployIndy, Finish Line Boys and Girls Club, and Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE), celebrated their first cohort of the “Power Huddle,” a mindset and employability skills course that prepares individuals for their next step in establishing their career.
Located at the Finish Line Boys & Girls Club on North Post Road, the Pivot Re-Engagement Center is one of many ways that EmployIndy has focused efforts on the Far Eastside, a target area of their strategic plan where unemployment and poverty remain higher than the rest of Marion County. EmployIndy launched the Pivot Re-Engagement Center with a goal of registering 100 young adults in 2018. Since the soft launch in May 2018, 740 individuals have signed up. Not only does this signify that there is a need for a safe space, but there is also a desire in these young adults to grow.
“They go through [the Power Huddle] not knowing it is a huge stepping stone for them,” said Jamarro Johnson, YES Youth Employment Specialist at CAFE. “When we meet and I address the steps to make this possible, they realize that their dreams aren’t as far off as they once imagined.”
The first Power Huddle cohort
This is why the Power Huddle is a crucial first step to finding sustainable employment, discovering their passions, or engaging in post-secondary training and education. Once through the Power Huddle, CAFE is engaging participants by providing assistance in adult basic education enrollment and guiding young adults into their career through a variety of career exploration and service elements. For Pivot participants, these opportunities provide a gateway for each individual to pursue his/her dreams.
“It’s all about transformation for us,” said Rodney Francis, EmployIndy Senior Director of Opportunity Youth Initiatives. “If they are self-motivated and learn to establish a vision and goals for themselves, then they have a better chance at success.”
The participants come from a variety of backgrounds, but all share the same dream of creating a bright future for themselves. Daysha, 22, is a Power Huddle graduate who started her education at Indiana University in 2014, but then had to drop out for financial and transportation reasons. She decided to move back to Indianapolis and enroll at IUPUI. A little over a year ago, Daysha resigned from IUPUI for similar reasons but also had a realization: “Not only could I not pay for my own wifi, I realized I didn’t know what I wanted to do or where to apply myself.”
Jayden, another participant, is 17 and graduating early from Lawrence North High School. He finished all of his classes this past summer, and this fall he has been working at McDonald’s while waiting to walk at his high school graduation in December. Jayden has always wanted to become a carpenter but not looked into local training opportunities, so he was not sure how he could reach this next step.
“When [Pivot instructors] were talking, they were all saying things I needed to hear to build my own self-confidence,” said Jayden. “Instead of always underestimating myself, I had a real potential to go and achieve my goals. It helped me to see myself from a different perspective and know that I am capable of doing what I dream.”
This sentiment was the resounding echo from the students. The Pivot Power Huddle opened their eyes to see where their passions align with their skills and current workforce needs in high-demand industries.
Since completing the Power Huddle, Daysha has decided to not only re-enroll at IUPUI and get her bachelor’s degree in Communications, but she wants to apply for the Peace Corps by next year so she can work overseas with youth. In addition, Jayden has looked into the best carpentry courses and wants to start his own business once he has achieved his certification and established a solid amount of reliable clientele.
“I think this program truly has the potential to impact young lives on the eastside,” said Erik Davenport, the Pivot Re-Engagement Center Director. “Even in the past two weeks, I have noticed such a change in their mindsets. You can really see the turning point when they believe their dreams are reachable.”
EmployIndy’s goal is that all young adults will understand their potential to excel personally and professionally. With an estimated 30,000 young adults in Marion County who need to reconnect to postsecondary education and better careers, the stakes are high. However, EmployIndy believes that progress has to happen at an individual and granular level, and these nine individuals have begun the journey to improving their lives by learning more about themselves, their passions, and their potential for success.
“I want to recognize all of the Pivot employees: They do such a good job making sure everyone has the resources they need, and you can genuinely tell that they care about you. I know that they don’t have to do what they do and we all really appreciate it,” said Daysha.
The second Power Huddle cohort will last one week and begin on December 3rd. Info sessions will take place November 27th – 30th daily at 11:30am at the Finish Line Boys & Girls Club. Plans are in the works to offer employer tours and invite businesses to come and inform potential participants about their organizational and hiring needs.
For more information about the Pivot Re-Engagement Center or the Power Huddle program, please contact Rodney Francis: [email protected]
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About EmployIndy EmployIndy guides the local workforce ecosystem and makes strategic investments to remove barriers to quality employment for underserved and underrepresented residents. As the workforce development board for Marion County, guided by 21 business, civic, education, and non-profit community leaders, EmployIndy invests $20 million in public, private, and philanthropic funds for both youth and adults annually.
About Boys and Girls Club of Indianapolis Since 1893, Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis have served the Indianapolis community. With five facility-based Clubs and five school-based sites, BGCI serves nearly 7,000 youth annually in the areas of career exploration and educational enhancement, citizenship and leadership, the arts, and health and fitness. For additional information, please call (317) 920-4700 or visit www.BGCINDY.org. Follow Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis @BGCINDY and “Like” us on Facebook at Facebook.com/bgcindy.
About Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE) CAFE’s mission is to offer direct aid to residents of the Far Eastside who are in desperate need. CAFE offers programming that supports youth and seniors alike, all with a continued focus on improving the quality of life for those who live, work and worship in the Far Eastside community. One of CAFE’s leading programs is their Center for Working Families, which helps transition families from living paycheck to paycheck to investing in their future – not only getting a job, but a career; not only meeting expenses, but saving for their first home.
Pivot, Power Huddle, and EmployIndy staff
Cohort 1 with shoes provided by Finish Line
Cohort 1 finding out about Kanye shoes from Finish Line
Ashayla Spearman
Cameron Kimmons
Daysha Beck
Dezmond Johnson
Jayden Dixon
Jeffery Ezel
Richard Berry
Tamia McNary
INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Mayor Joe Hogsett joined leaders from Indy Achieves and Enroll Indy, as well as the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, to announce a unique partnership to streamline the 21st Century Scholars enrollment process for Indianapolis families.
For the first time, families of current 7th and 8th grade students completing Enroll Indy’s OneMatch application will be prompted to sign up for in 21st Century Scholars, a need- based early promise program that provides students up to four years of undergraduate tuition at any participating public college or university in Indiana. In 2017, only 52% of eligible Marion County 8th grade students enrolled in 21st Century Scholars. Hoping to engage more eligible students, this partnership between Indy Achieves and Enroll Indy strives to make the process easier for families.
“Today’s partnership advances the work we have been doing with the Indy Achieves program,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “We understand Indianapolis and its residents greatly benefit when everyone has the opportunity to obtain a quality education. It is my hope that this new partnership will continue to eliminate barriers, and increase our educational attainment rate.”
“Two of Enroll Indy’s core values are equitable access and community partnerships,” noted Enroll Indy Founder and Executive Director, Caitlin Hannon. “We believe that by forging strong partnerships throughout the city, we will reach more families and create more opportunities for all students. By working with Indy Achieves, we hope that families will take advantage of programs that will support their children beyond high school graduation.”
Statewide, 20,000 21st Century Scholars are enrolled in Indiana colleges and more than 100,000 are currently in the pipeline for postsecondary education. “Our most recent data indicate that 82 percent of all 21st Century Scholars go directly to college after completing high school and more Scholars are completing college than ever,” said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers. “We have seen the success of the program in the lives of graduates and must continue our efforts at the state, county and school levels to enroll all eligible students.”
In addition to the announcement of today’s partnership, Enroll Indy launched Year Two of its OneMatch web-based application process and presented Year One results today. OneMatch serves more than 100 K-12 Indianapolis Public Schools and charter schools, and in its first year, OneMatch received more than 9,000 applications to Indianapolis schools. Students and their families can access applications online today at http://enrollindy.org/onematch/apply/.
$7.85 million will help recruit, retrain dislocated workers
Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS) Partner Map
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – October 9, 2018 — The U.S. Department of Labor awarded EmployIndy and other partner cities of Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS), nearly $8 million in Trade and Economic Transition Dislocated Worker grant funding to help mature dislocated workers reconnect with employment in growth occupations and industries.
“The loss of legacy jobs has hit Marion County hard in the past two years due to changing technology, automation, trade, outsourcing, and rising business expenses. Displaced workers are faced with a traumatic challenge – both personally and professionally – which they must navigate to find their next step,” said Angela Carr Klitzsch, EmployIndy President and CEO.
“Addressing the needs of our ageing workforce is a challenge for all of our members,” said Midwest Urban Strategies Director Tracey Carey. “We’re especially excited for our partners involved in the grant and the opportunity to learn from the best practices and experiences that will come.”
The $7.85 million grant award will be used to coordinate and implement a regional strategy to recruit mature workers that have experienced a dislocation in sectors negatively impacted by technology and automation. Specifically, partners will use pre- apprentice and registered apprenticeship, customized, just-in-time training to develop best practice strategies.
The program will focus on efforts to engage and retrain mature workers with new skill sets and gain reemployment in sectors including Healthcare, Transportation and Logistics, Information Technology, Financial Services and Advanced Manufacturing.
As a partner organization, EmployIndy will receive nearly $1.1 million in programmatic funds to deploy in the Indianapolis region. Over two years, EmployIndy will be allocating these funds to serve more than 150 dislocated workers throughout Marion County. This will be made possible through formulaic career assessment systems, growing local apprenticeship programs, and utilizing career pathways toolkits created in partnership with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL).
About EmployIndy
EmployIndy guides the local workforce ecosystem and makes strategic investments to remove barriers to quality employment for underserved and underrepresented residents. As the workforce development board for Marion County, guided by 21 business, civic, education, and non-profit community leaders, EmployIndy invests $20 million in public, private and philanthropic funds for both youth and adults annually.
About Midwest Urban Strategies
Midwest Urban Strategies represents a coordinated effort on behalf of 13 Department of Labor urban workforce development boards to marry traditional workforce development practices with economic development. Through intentional collaboration, leveraging stakeholders and efficient and creative use of resources, our strategy is to retain and grow local talent and generate a greater return on investment for our employer partners and the workforce system. For more information visit us online at midwesturbanstrategies.com or follow us on Twitter @midwestworkers.
EmployIndy posted its 2017-18 Annual Report on September 25th, showcasing the accomplishments of the first year of work of our five-year strategic plan. Read the intro letter from our President & CEO, Angela Carr Klitzsch below – and be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter to get EmployIndy info like this directly to your inbox.
ADVANCING THE WORKFORCE
Dear Ecosystem Partners, Supporters, and Influencers,
September annually celebrates and honors American workers and their impact on the well-being of our country. We at EmployIndy follow suit to commemorate another year advancing local workers on pathways that ensure self-sufficiency.
EmployIndy plays a pivotal role in the prosperity of our city’s economy and its underserved and underrepresented residents. Leading EmployIndy through notable transition to streamline investment towards a strategy of youth development, neighborhood prioritization and place-based workforce development, and career pathway creation for low- to mid-skilled residents, has been both gratifying and a worthy challenge.
The Marion County Workforce Ecosystem is made up of many unique stakeholders – the work of an intermediary to coordinate these critical partners is no small task. Parts of this local system have historically been fragmented, and our focus in year one of EmployIndy’s five-year Strategic Plan has been on building organizational capacity to unify and advance the system. In year two EmployIndy will continue increasing investment in programs, providers, and initiatives that ensure inclusion and equity to effectively increase labor participation as the economy continues to grow.
WorkOne Indy is more than two brick and mortar locations on either side of town. It is made up of the combined efforts of staff, partnerships, referrals, employer partners, and more. As EmployIndy has sought to find more ways for career services to be available in strategic locations that most need support, partnership with Ivy Tech has proven to be successful in connecting job seekers to local employers.
“We have career coaches who do great work with finding jobs and resume development,” says Bradley Pearson, Director of the Early Resource Connections Center (ERCC) at Ivy Tech. “WorkOne has been helpful with more detailed services like understanding transferable skills, beginning a job search from scratch, and providing connections to other WorkOne resources.”
WorkOne Indy career navigator Danielle Sims shares space with finance coaches and others who provide support services at the main Ivy Tech Fall Creek Parkway campus at the ERCC. She compares it to the type of holistic support and structure that one would find at a Center for Working Families rather than what is typically found within a traditional college career services office because “if someone needs a job, they need to have those basic needs met first.”
Danielle Sims, WorkOne Indy Career Navigator
Though she says her most common type of support is helping people maneuver through the job search process, Sims also is quick to say that she never sees the same situation twice. Generally, though, there is a pretty even split between people who are seeking help with a career upon matriculation versus those needing a job “right now” while enrolled school. Her services often include resume and application help, sharing opportunities like hiring events and job fairs, and connecting clients to community resources.
Ivy Tech students are not the only people who make use of this resource. With the main campus positioned squarely in the 46208 zip code, this access point also serves as a location that people in the nearby neighborhoods of this target impact area can utilize.
“It is a different demographic than those at the main WorkOne offices – we are definitely reaching people who we otherwise might not be able to support.”
Danielle Sims, WorkOne Career Navigator
With the school year about to start, WorkOne Indy is ramping up on-site hours to 20 per week to be well-positioned for the activity that comes with a new fall semester.
Ivy Tech has done some outreach to ensure that students know WorkOne Indy is offering an on-site resource, and Pearson is quick to say that he believes WorkOne Indy’s presence has enhanced the ERCC’s growth in intake numbers, “becoming more a part of the vernacular for students, faculty, and staff.” Danielle Sims has personally taken that effort a step further.
“Now that I have been co-located here for a while, I have had an opportunity to learn how things work at Ivy Tech and network with others on campus,” she says. One example of this is working with academic advisors to help connect students to Indiana Career Explorer to help students more clearly understand how their strengths and interests can lead to a meaningful career.
Danielle Sims is excited to see WorkOne Indy grow in this area, and she believes this model could work with other locations around Indy. “As more people understand why I am here, I expect to see more referrals come my way.”
During the school year, WorkOne Indy can be accessed on the fourth floor of theIvy Tech North Meridian Center in room 414 from 8:00am – 4:30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and from 10:00am – 2:00pm on Thursdays.
After more than three decades of operation, the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program has proven to be one of the most successful state-level strategies for tackling high school dropout rates, low academic performance, youth unemployment, and other barriers for at-risk youth. Program participants actively engage in career exploration, leadership, and goal setting as they plan for their future and transition into post-secondary education, military service, and/or employment. In Marion County, EmployIndy administers JAG for IPS and other local high schools.
The JAG 5 of 5 Award is the “gold standard” for JAG programs throughout the nation. To earn it, the local program must have at least a 90% graduation rate; 80% positive outcome rate; 60% job placement rate; 60% full-time job rate; and an 80% full-time placement rate. In Marion County, 95% of JAG students graduated from high school for the 2017-2018 school year.
In July, both the state and Marion County were given the JAG 5 of 5 Award for the fourth consecutive year. Additionally, six JAG Specialists received the award, two of which were also recognized on a national level as Outstanding Specialists. Although these awards are coveted, it is not the plaque that drives the specialists to success – it is the lives they impact each and every day.
JAG Specialists gather with award at the national JAG conference
Nearly all the students who enter the JAG program have barriers to overcome and need an extra push to establish a vision for a successful future. In Marion County, only 80% of public school students graduate high school to move onto further education or join the workforce. This dream pushed DaWit, a senior at George Washington High School, to join JAG because of his desire to gain necessary and valuable skills for his future, as well as have the opportunity for career exploration.
DaWit’s JAG Specialist, Charmaine Wardell, saw his motivation and helped him chase his dreams. “She’s the good type of nosy,” DaWit says of Charmaine. “She picks up on what you want to do and why – then she helps you get there.” Charmaine learned that he always hoped to be a public servant, which is when Captain Kevin Givens of the Indianapolis Fire Department entered the picture. When Captain Givens came to speak to the JAG participants this spring, Charmaine encouraged DaWit to network with him and ask about an opportunity to intern at his fire station.
DaWit (back row, center) with crew at Station 31
This connection led to DaWit’s seven-month internship at Station 31. His internship confirmed that becoming a firefighter was what he wants to do with his future. “These people are family,” he said. “They talk openly with one another and are always there for each other and that’s what I want.” DaWit learned that there is some required education to be a successful firefighter, starting with becoming a paramedic and earning his Fire Science degree. In the fall of 2018, he will be taking these steps by attending Indiana State University, making him the first person in his family to attend college. DaWit is also interested in studying Unmanned Systems and Aeronautical Engineering. DaWit’s dream is to work at the Indianapolis Fire Department while also starting his own business of fixing planes and test flying them.
To guide more young adults like DaWit, JAG will be adding four programs for the 2018-2019 school year, for a total of 18 programs in 14 schools throughout the Indianapolis area. “We’ve had a lot of excitement over the JAG program in the past few years,” says Erika Cheney, EmployIndy’s Director of In-School Youth. “Whenever we are in the media, we always have individuals reaching out to us asking more about the program and how we can expand into their schools.” In the 2018-2019 school year, JAG will be expanding into Warren Central High School, Southport High School, Shortridge High School, and Crispus Attucks High School. JAG is instrumental in providing schools the extra support needed to help improve student’s academic and future career success.
Aside from growing JAG in Marion County, EmployIndy has been partnering with IPS to encourage work-readiness preparation and career exploration. In June of 2017, EmployIndy and IPS were awarded a grant from EWIN (Education Workforce Innovation Network) and CELL/UIndy (Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of Indianapolis). With these funds, EmployIndy and IPS studied other work-based learning continuums taking place throughout the United States. Representatives from each organization researched and visited Academies of Nashville, P-TECH in New York, and Denver Public Schools CareerConnect.
The knowledge gained from these visits led to the establishment of the Health Sciences Academy launched at Crispus Attucks for the 2017-2018 school year. EmployIndy had staff members on various committees focused on employer engagement, work-readiness, and college and career prep. Throughout the year, St. Vincent, Senior1Care, and Trilogy Health Services were the top health industry employers involved. These employers, along with EmployIndy staff, participated in mock interviews during the student’s College and Career Prep class.
To further improve career readiness and exploration, EmployIndy hosted Opportunity Days at each of the WorkOne Indy locations in February of 2018. The Opportunity Days consisted of 160 students attending employability skills and financial literacy workshops. These student field trips were found to be so successful and informational that they will continue to take place throughout the 2018-2019 school year.
Partnering with organizations throughout Marion County, EmployIndy is working to grow the future of the workforce by providing various funding strategies, techniques, and implementing a strategic plan focused on supplying young adults with opportunities for work-readiness and preparation for a future of sustainable employment in good and promising jobs.
Erika Cheney, EmployIndy Director of In-School Youth
In the Spring of 2016, I was one of four local leaders who travelled to witness and experience the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council’s World of Opportunities event, which became the framework for JA JobSpark. I was chosen to travel because I am the Director of In-School Youth Services for EmployIndy, Indianapolis’ Workforce Development Board, and I serve on the JA JobSpark Steering committee and as the facilitator for the Government, Law, and Public Service Cluster.
Erika Cheney and Leslie Crist (Assoc. Chief of Workforce Programs for Indiana DWD) at 2017 JA JobSpark
My direct impact on the growth of JA JobSpark has stimulated EmployIndy’s involvement and partnership with many local businesses and organizations. We have staff members on the JA JobSpark Marketing committee, Volunteer and Logistics subcommittee, day-of volunteers, and who participate in JA for A Day! (employees go into IPS schools and teach Junior Achievement curriculum). EmployIndy also has staff members from our Business Partnerships team who sit on the different committees for each industry cluster.
JA JobSpark is such a unique event here in Indianapolis. I love to see the excitement on each of the kids’ faces when they come through the door and experience it for the first time. One of the major reasons that EmployIndy chooses to be so heavily involved in this event is that the 8th grade students who attend are given opportunities to explore and learn more about a variety of occupations that they may not know previously existed. As Director of In-School Youth, I oversee all of EmployIndy’s in-school programs, which focus on getting young adults to take those steps to further their careers. For many, JA JobSpark is the first opportunity to get young adults interested in their futures as they progress into high school, begin to think about career exploration, and become knowledgeable about postsecondary opportunities.
I believe that knowledge is power – the more we are able to arm Indianapolis youth with the awareness of the variety of potential career options, the more they can be prepared for their next step.
The hands-on resources open doors for these 8th graders as they learn more about a variety of careers and different workforce sectors. Questions created from this event will open doors for the students to ask employers, professionals in the field, about their jobs and the steps they took to get where they are today. After they attend the event, they leave with the freedom to ask their teachers more about career clusters and the job opportunities they experienced during JA JobSpark.
Beyond just providing knowledge, I believe it is crucial that every participant is gifted with the tools and resources they need to make good decisions about their future. JA JobSpark helps students be more thoughtful about what they want to be when they grow up. These rewards make it worth all of the finances, time, and long nights that are put towards making this program possible and making a difference in someone’s life. Our hope is that this experience will encourage students to make better choices in their future and share their involvement with the participants who come after them.
Since JA JobSpark kicked off in 2016, it has created a wave in the business community. There is a buzz around how important it is to invest in the future of the workforce, and it starts with molding individuals while they are young to both chase their dreams and learn that the effort and hard work are worth it. It makes the Government, Law, and Public Service cluster stand out. Although it isn’t always the highest paying sector, the payoff is more than rewarding with the daily opportunities to better the lives of the community and gain a strong desire to help people. These characteristics carry over into your home life and shape you into a person that is influential and will have a positive impact on the lives of those around you.
On July 9th, EmployIndy was invited to the Portillo’s grand opening on the south side, where they generously donated $5000 to our Jessica Brown Memorial Scholarship. EmployIndy thanks Portillo’s for the generous donation – because of donations like this, and the ones received from numerous professional and personal colleagues, the scholarship is endowed for future students! You can donate too, see photos below, and check out some other coverage at Inside Indiana Business and CBS4.
On June 20, Joyce Irwin, President & CEO of Community HealthNetwork, resigned from her post as EmployIndy’s Board Chair. Joyce has been on our board since 2013 and led her last board meeting today. She is an influential leader in our community and to say she has made a positive impact on our organization would be an understatement. Joyce has been a part of the EmployIndy family as she impacted leadership turnover, encouraged organization growth, and facilitated innovative change as we established our Five-Year Strategic Plan, launched in 2017.
In her final board meeting, Mayor Joe Hogsett granted June 20 as Indianapolis’ “Joyce Irwin Day,” recognizing the influence she has had on Marion County’s workforce and throughout the Indianapolis community. Thank you, Joyce, for your support and we wish you the best on all your future endeavors!
INDIANAPOLIS – Following bipartisan approval of initial program funding by the City-County Council last night, Mayor Joe Hogsett announced the appointment of Matt Impink as the executive director of the Indy Achieves initiative.
“Last night, a bipartisan, forward-thinking coalition of City-County Councillors helped to provide the initial funding for Indy Achieves, a comprehensive program to make college attainable for every Marion County resident,” said Mayor Hogsett. “I applaud their commitment to decreasing barriers to success and growing our city’s talent pipeline, helping to make the American Dream achievable for all who call Indianapolis home.”
In 2017, Mayor Hogsett brought together representatives from state and local government, institutions of higher education, workforce development and education nonprofits, as well as major corporate employers, to assemble recommendations aimed at improving access to post-secondary educational opportunities for all Marion County residents. Last month, Mayor Hogsett announced the recommendations of that group at Chapel Hill 7th and 8th Grade Center, and launched Indy Achieves.
Indy Achieves, a comprehensive program to make post-secondary credentials and degrees available to every Indianapolis resident, will be housed within EmployIndy, Marion County’s workforce development agency, as a standalone organization with an expected staff of nearly a dozen once fully launched. It will be funded exclusively through an annual appropriation by the City-County Council that will not require any new taxes, as well as through agreements with both Ivy Tech and IUPUI who will financially participate in the program.
As executive director, Matt will guide Indy Achieves’ mission to improve access and completion of high quality degrees and credentials for Marion County students. This will entail offering aid to students through existing scholarships, marshaling private and philanthropic resources to provide wraparound services for residents pursuing a post-secondary degree, as well as monitoring Indianapolis’ workforce needs to ensure the model remains effective.
“Matt’s experience with education and community development have fully prepared him to take on the role of preparing our children for scholastic and professional success through Indy Achieves,” said Mayor Hogsett. “Indy Achieves is bold in both concept and execution, and we’re grateful to have Matt’s leadership at the helm helping to guide Marion County students toward a meaningful role in our 21st-century workforce.”
Prior to being appointed, Matt served as Director of Policy and Civic Engagement at the Indy Chamber where he led the Chamber’s efforts to expand mass transit, grow internship opportunities, and develop an inclusive growth agenda for economic development. Prior to that, Matt worked as a researcher at the IU Public Policy Institute, a community organizer at Stand for Children Indiana, and consultant at Lumina Foundation for Education.
Matt began his career in public education as an 11th grade U.S. History teacher while serving in Teach for America. Matt graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Public Affairs degree from IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI. As a proud Indianapolis native, he serves on the board of directors for Southeast Neighborhood Development (SEND), Indiana INTERNnet, and Latino Youth Collective.
For more information about Indy Achieves, visit IndyAchieves.org.
On June 20, Joyce Irwin, President & CEO of 
INDIANAPOLIS – Following bipartisan approval of initial program funding by the City-County Council last night, Mayor Joe Hogsett announced the appointment of Matt Impink as the executive director of the Indy Achieves initiative.
As executive director, Matt will guide Indy Achieves’ mission to improve access and completion of high quality degrees and credentials for Marion County students. This will entail offering aid to students through existing scholarships, marshaling private and philanthropic resources to provide wraparound services for residents pursuing a post-secondary degree, as well as monitoring Indianapolis’ workforce needs to ensure the model remains effective.