INDIANAPOLIS – Aug 6, 2024 – EmployIndy is excited to announce that Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) in Indy will be expanding this Fall, including new programs at two Marion County high schools and six Marion County middle schools.  

JAG Indy is a state-affiliated program, based on a national model, that aims to keep young people in school through graduation and provide career-connected learning experiences that will lead to career advancement opportunities, or enrollment in a postsecondary institution that leads to a rewarding career. 

“EmployIndy is excited to expand JAG Indy’s reach throughout Marion County, providing career-connected learning opportunities for more students in our region,” said Marie Mackintosh, President + CEO of EmployIndy. “The experiences and skills gained through JAG play a critical part in our young people making informed career choices after high school.” 

The program’s expansion is a result of the continued success in achieving outcomes for students. JAG Indy recently achieved the National 6 of 6 award for both Multi-Year and Alternative Education programs. This award is achieved by meeting six graduation, further education, and employment standards set by the national organization. Having achieved this designation for the 9th year running, JAG Indy’s multi-year programs boasted a 98% graduation rate as well as a 75% full-time positive outcome rate, with the latter highlighting the percentage of students that entered full-time employment and/or further education. 

“We were thrilled to have recently been awarded the 6 of 6 designation from JAG National,” said Erika Seydel Cheney, VP of Career Connected Learning at EmployIndy. “The hard work from our team, our JAG Specialists, and our JAG students was deservedly recognized and will give us added confidence as we expand this year.” 

JAG Indy’s expansion in the high school space will include new programs at both Irvington Preparatory Academy and Victory College Prep. Expansion into the middle school space will include new programs at three Washington Township middle schools (Eastwood, Northview, and Westlane) as well as new programs at three IPS middle schools (H.L. Harshman, Broad Ripple, and William Penn). In addition to these new programs, JAG Indy will add an out-of-school youth focused JAG program within YouthBuild Indy, an EmployIndy led construction training program. 

To get involved, students and parents are encouraged to contact their school’s administration office to connect to their JAG Specialist. Learn more about JAG Indy by visiting www.employindy.org/youth-services/jag. 

INDIANAPOLIS – June 29, 2024 – EmployIndy proudly recognized 17 modern youth apprentices who are part of the first graduating cohort of the Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) as well as introduced a new fourth cohort of apprentices and employers participating in the program at the 2024 Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event. 

MAP, a 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. 

During their time in the program, each graduating apprentice from the first cohort earned their high school diploma, an hourly income from their employer, college credits, industry certifications and credentials, and first-hand, relevant job experience—multiplying their options after graduation. The new fourth cohort of 17 apprentices, selected from over 250 applicants, will begin the program in their junior year of high school, splitting their time between the classroom and the workplace. 

“The Modern Apprenticeship Program is unique in its ability to provide students with hands-on job experience and an opportunity to earn money, college credit, and professional connections,” says Marie Mackintosh, President + CEO of EmployIndy. “Our first graduating cohort is a diverse group of young people who have wonderfully modeled the path forward and we’re excited to see our newest cohort follow their example.” 

As a talent strategy and the highest-caliber experience offered through Talent Bound, EmployIndy’s career-connected learning continuum, 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 and educators 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. 

“As educators, we work hard to provide life-changing education and opportunities,” said Dr. Rebecca Daugherty-Saunders, Director of College and Career Readiness for the MSD of Wayne Township. “Through MAP, we’ve seen students draw real connections between their high school coursework, postsecondary credentials, and work experience, helping them to shape their career path and future.” 

The event also provided several graduating apprentices with an opportunity to share their experiences and encourage the incoming cohort. Having gained valuable insights and industry experience during their time in the program, these apprentices can confidently move forward in navigating the next step in their career path. 

“I think MAP did a lot to build my confidence, independence, and problem-solving abilities,” said Nicholas Graves, a third year graduating apprentice serving as a Staff Accountant at the Indy Chamber. “It has solidified my professional goals and provided a strong foundation that directly applies to my career in accounting.” 

The Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event, taking place annually, marks the beginning of the apprentice-employer journey as the students sign a formal certificate of acceptance for their positions. As part of this commitment, the employer will mentor and support the student as they navigate an in-demand role within their respective organization. During the 3-year experience, EmployIndy, Marion County’s workforce development board, actively supports apprentices, employers, and general programmatic outcomes for Modern Apprenticeship. 

To learn more about Modern Apprenticeship (MAP), visit www.indymodernapprenticeship.com. 

INDIANAPOLIS – May 9, 2024 – This morning, Mayor Joe Hogsett, the Office of Minority and Women Business Development, EmployIndy, and over 50 local employers gathered at the 23rd Annual Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Awards to recognize organizations who demonstrate inclusivity in the workplace and are dedicated to supporting diverse individuals and continuing progress in our community. This year’s event took place in-person at the Culinary and Conference Center at Ivy Tech Community College, with over 400 in attendance to hear local leaders share their experiences and best practices for progressing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.  

This event places a special emphasis on the importance of supporting youth employment in Marion County as proceeds go to support Project Indy, an initiative developed by Mayor Joe Hogsett in 2016 and housed within EmployIndy. Through Project Indy’s virtual platform that utilizes text messaging to recruit and onboard job seekers, nearly 18,000 young adults in Marion County have been connected to work experiences that build their employability skills and allow them to explore new career fields. 

“My congratulations to all of this year's Mayor's Celebration of Diversity Award winners,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “We extend this recognition each year because diversity is one of our city’s greatest strengths – and embracing that diversity, ensuring every resident has the opportunity to participate in our growth and success, benefits our whole community.” 

A new award was added to this year’s event; the Excellence in Service Community-Based Organization (CBO) Award. This award celebrates a non-profit community-based organization that provides excellent and inclusive workforce development services to Marion County residents and employers. 

In total, seven awards were given at this year’s event with unique focuses including celebrating the quality of services delivered by community-based organizations, impact of youth apprenticeships, good wages and employee support, excelling in youth employment, diversity in leadership, and a focus on workplace culture. 

“EmployIndy is excited to partner with Mayor Hogsett and the City of Indianapolis to recognize organizations who have proven their commitment to equitable practices in hiring, leadership, quality jobs, culture, and service delivery,” said Marie Mackintosh, president & CEO of EmployIndy. “This year’s new award for Community-Based Organizations aligns with our strategic focus on building capacity among our ecosystem partners to ensure quality career coaching and employment services are delivered across Marion County.” 

Award recipients at this year’s event are as follows: 

“Excellence in Service Community-Based Organization (CBO) Award” was awarded to Keys2Work for their provision of excellent and inclusive workforce development services to Marion County residents and employers. 

“Dr. Mechelle Polter Youth Apprenticeship Employer of the Year” was awarded to Indianapolis Airport Authority for their dedication to providing high school students with a positive trajectory to actively pursue a career by providing valuable, paid apprenticeship opportunities that complement their traditional coursework. 

“Choice Employer” was awarded to Citizens Energy Group for offering all full-time employees a good wage of $18 an hour and benefits and embodies the traits of a “Choice Employer,” by creating a work environment that focuses on supporting Career Pathways, Culture and Diversity, and Employee Resources. 

“Excellence in Youth Employment” was awarded to Arcamed LLC for their commitment to offering youth and young adults in Indianapolis an opportunity for their first job and embraces a culture that promotes the personal growth of those individuals through mentoring and advancement. 

“Diversity in Workforce” was awarded to O’Neal Manufacturing Services who, in the past year, successfully implemented best practices to support workforce diversity.  

“Diversity in Leadership” was awarded to Morales Group Staffing who cultivates an atmosphere of growth, particularly when considering upper-level diversity as well as actively supporting a diverse organizational culture. 

“Sam H. Jones ‘Best of the Best’” was awarded to Indy Equity Collaborative for exemplary performance in all aspects of diversity. 

Individuals who are interested in supporting youth employment in Marion County through Project Indy can donate online at www.employindy.org/mcod-donate. More information about Project Indy can be found at projectindy.net.