Kiara Reed and Anthony Parish, participants of EmployIndy’s YouthBuild Indy program, were selected to join more than 40 other young leaders in Washington, D.C. at the 36th Annual YouthBuild AmeriCorps Conference of Young Leaders (CoYL) in late 2024. 

Through CoYL, YouthBuild AmeriCorps students are brought together to fully experience the breadth and impact of YouthBuild’s global movement rooted in leadership, service, education and job skills training. Participants further develop their leadership skills and network with current and former students from YouthBuild programs across the country.  

YouthBuild Indy, one of 247 local programs across the U.S. that partner with opportunity youth—young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor employed— offers young people the opportunity to build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to lifelong learning, livelihood and leadership. As a part of EmployIndy’s Coaching + Training efforts, YouthBuild Indy provides the personalized guidance and support that is essential to helping individuals choose the right education or training paths and persist through to completion. Last program year, 10,923 clients and participants enrolled in coaching and training through EmployIndy programs and initiatives, with 275 certifications earned in advanced trainings. 

“As businesses grow and the demand for workers with specialized skills and postsecondary training increases, it’s inspiring to see the hard work of young people like Kiara and Anthony as they obtain certifications that will help them succeed in a rapidly changing economy,” says Marie Mackintosh, President + CEO of EmployIndy. “We’re honored to have them representing YouthBuild Indy in our nation’s capital.” 

Throughout the three-day conference, participants explored this year’s theme, “Lead Well. Be Well.”, as they broadened their skills and deepened their knowledge to create positive change in their communities. Having overcame personal challenges and displayed leadership in their time in the program, including Parish receiving an outstanding leadership through service award from YouthBuild national, both Reed and Parish were chosen by their fellow students and YouthBuild Indy staff to participate in CoYL.  

“When YouthBuild students experience the breadth and depth of the entire YouthBuild movement outside of their individual local programs, they see yet another example of their collective strength and potential to change the world,” said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild Global. “By making these connections during our Conference of Young Leaders, context is gathered, and lifelong friendships are made. These young leaders bring a larger worldview, and even greater purpose, back to their communities.” 

YouthBuild champions opportunity youth as they achieve their ambitions and reach their full potential. In YouthBuild programs around the world, young people who are out of school and out of work reclaim their education, gain job skills, and become leaders in their communities through service and civic engagement. These young people are in greatest need of our support, and they are our greatest source of untapped potential to create more equitable economic growth and transform the world. In YouthBuild’s environment of love, respect, high expectations, belonging, and agency, young people overcome barriers and build long-term professional and personal success. 

Learn more about YouthBuild Indy and register for upcoming program opportunities at www.youthbuildindy.org. 

This week, EmployIndy is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) to showcase the successes and value of apprenticeships for building new career pathways that address both the talent shortages that continue to challenge businesses across Central Indiana and the desire from workers for more options for obtaining good jobs.  

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, NAW is a nationwide celebration taking place from November 17-23, 2024, where employers, industry representatives, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, educational institutions, and federal,  state, and local government agencies host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeships for strengthening our economy by developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry needs, creating pathways for career seekers to catapult into good jobs, and advancing racial and gender equity. 

As Marion County’s workforce intermediary, EmployIndy plays a key role in supporting the apprenticeship movement for job seekers and employers in Indianapolis. Through our Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP), we’ve placed 142 youth apprentices with 46 local employers, providing a strategic solution for employers to close the skills gap while developing a workforce prepared to meet future demands. For the student, MAP helps them gain hands-on job experience and an opportunity to earn money, college credit, and professional connections in growing fields such as business, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology (IT), resulting in more options when deciding what comes next after high school. 

EmployIndy also supports pre-apprenticeship programs that puts individuals on a path to financial stability in trades like construction. Through YouthBuild Indy, EmployIndy offers young people the opportunity to obtain industry certifications, develop job readiness skills, receive adult basic education preparation, and hands-on paid work experiences. A graduate of the program, Anthony Parish, was recently nationally recognized by YouthBuild USA for his outstanding leadership through service.  

EmployIndy and our network of Community-Based Organizations (CBO) also help job seekers identify and take advantage of unique pathways to good jobs including pre-apprenticeship programs like Indiana Plan which provides construction training to minorities and disadvantaged workers in Indiana. This summer, Joseph Webster, a job seeker struggling with housing insecurity and transportation barriers, benefitted from our connections within the workforce ecosystem. After obtaining his OSHA 30 certification through EmployIndy CBO partners Key2Work and RecycleForce, Webster was referred by EmployIndy to Indiana Plan where he became a standout member of his training cohort and ultimately secured an apprenticeship with Central Midwest Carpenters. 

EmployIndy’s leadership in the apprenticeship space extends through our role as a convener of apprenticeship stakeholders as well. In September, Indianapolis hosted the 2024 National Youth Apprenticeship Summit. Alongside our partners CareerWise USA and PAYA, who organized the conference, EmployIndy helped highlight the importance of collaboration between intermediaries, like us, who are key to scaling youth apprenticeships. We also led site visits at several of our MAP employers to give summit attendees a look into the workplaces where our youth apprentices are making a real impact. 

Additionally, to maximize the reach of National Apprenticeship Week and call upon partner organizations and apprenticeship stakeholders throughout Central Indiana to recognize the value of Registered Apprenticeship, Mayor Joe Hogsett and the City of Indianapolis have partnered with EmployIndy to recognize National Apprenticeship Week in Indianapolis through an official mayoral proclamation. 

We encourage you to join us this week in celebrating the recent growth and impact of apprenticeships in Marion County while looking forward to the progress ahead. 

Innovative Modern Apprenticeship Program Grows, Offering Local Businesses a New Way to Build Talent Pipelines

Indianapolis, IN – October 15, 2024 – With talent shortages continuing to challenge businesses across Central Indiana, a growing number of employers are turning to the Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) as a strategic solution to close the skills gap while developing a workforce prepared to meet future demands.

The EmployIndy program pairs high school students with local employers, providing hands-on work experience while students earn experience and industry credentials. As the demand for skilled labor rises, MAP is helping employers take a proactive role in developing young talent before they even enter the job market.

Today, EmployIndy hosted a workshop for community employers at Tinker House Events to discuss how MAP can meet their workforce needs. The event featured panel discussions and small group sessions, showcasing success stories and providing practical steps for getting involved in the program.

“Employers are not just hiring for today’s roles. Through MAP, they’re building a workforce for the future,” says Marie Mackintosh, President & CEO of EmployIndy. “Employers have the unique opportunity to shape and grow the next generation of skilled workers, ensuring they are building the skills for long-term career success.”

Employers like the Indianapolis Airport Authority, OneAmerica Financial, and Plastic Recycling Inc. are already seeing results from their participation in MAP. Mario Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, emphasizes the program’s value: “It’s a no-brainer. This program is what everybody has been asking for.”

Local Economy Impact

As more industries face staffing shortages, particularly in high-growth, in-demand fields like Information Technology, Business Operations, Finance, and Advanced Manufacturing, the MAP model is becoming an essential tool for Indianapolis businesses to remain competitive. The program not only helps fill immediate roles but also ensures that employers can cultivate future talent pipelines—an investment that benefits both employers and the local economy.

According to the National Skills Coalition, industries across the state are experiencing a growing skills gap, especially as older workers retire. The combination of a growing skills gap and low labor force participation will continue to be a critical challenge to growing Indiana’s economy. Programs like MAP provide a solution by giving high school students practical experience, preparing them to step into skilled positions immediately upon graduation.

For media inquiries or to schedule an interview with one of our featured employers or apprentices, please contact Sam Hanes at shanes@nullemployindy.org.