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.

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

Congratulations to the third cohort of Modern Apprenticeship students and employer partners:

1.Edward Webster, Arsenal Tech High School, 100 Black Men

2.Gift Akintomide, Ben Davis University High School, AES

3.Cameron Morris, George Washington High School, Arcamed

4.Jaida Okello, North Central High School, Ascend Indiana

5.Chrystan McNeal, Purdue Polytechnic HS-North, Ascension

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

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.

To learn more about the Job Quality Academy, visit www.jff.org/job-quality-academy. To learn more about becoming a Choice Employer in Marion County, visit www.employindy.org/choice-employers or contact Lora Steele at lsteele@nullemployindy.org.

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.

To make these collaborative efforts possible, EmployIndy has worked to combine funding from the City of Indianapolis and The Indianapolis Foundation (with supporting funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act), through the Elevation Grant 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 trainingforsuccessllc1@nullgmail.com.

Youth and young adults can learn more about YES Indy services or connect to a YES Indy service provider at yesindy317.org.