On Wednesday, July 13, over 400 students from Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) gathered at Arsenal Technical High School to participate in the inaugural LET’S BUILD! event. Formed in partnership between EmployIndy’s Talent Bound, Built to Succeed (Indiana Careers in Construction), and IPS, LET’S BUILD! is a one-day construction camp that brought together all 14 union building trades in Marion County to offer hands-on activities and further career exposure opportunities for rising 9th graders, students who are soon entering high school. 

“This event was really special as it was the culmination of the Talent Bound’s work over this last year in the K-8 space with IPS where our focus was exposing students to the building and construction trades,” said Mechelle Polter, Senior Director of Talent Bound. “Today, students got to take the next step and apply what they’ve learned through hands-on activities.” As students engaged with various building trades employers and unions, they had the opportunity to interact with industry models as well as real-world scenarios such as masonry work, climbing a steel beam while harnessed, and more. 

Talent Bound is EmployIndy's vehicle to provide students in Marion County with access to authentic work-based learning experiences, leveraging EmployIndy's network of engaged businesses to provide activities that increase informed decision making and develop the critical skills needed to succeed in the future of work. During the 2021-22 academic year, over 21,800 work-based learning experiences were provided to Marion County students through Talent Bound. 

Work-based learning occurs as a continuum of growth for students and Talent Bound offers activities along three phases of that continuum to build their knowledge: career exposure, career engagement, and career experience. Considered a Talent Challenge, the LET’S BUILD! event took the previous career exposure work to the next level through providing the hands-on experiences.

“The Let's Build trades fair was an excellent opportunity for our incoming freshmen to gain hands-on experience and inspiration,” said Mel Coryell, Director of Academies and Pathways at IPS. “Our vision is for all IPS graduates to have a plan for and be prepared for a fulfilling future, and engaging with community partners and employers in this way is an essential step towards that vision.” Participating IPS schools included: Arsenal Technical High School, Crispus Attucks High School, George Washington High School, and Shortridge High School.

While students were getting their hands dirty and learning about available careers in the construction industry, local employers were working to build new talent pipelines by putting their industry in front of young adults who are eager to find their path.

“The LET’S BUILD! Construction Camp was a huge success and is an example of the growing relationship between the ICCA and EmployIndy’s Talent Bound program,” said Lynn Busby, Director of Community Outreach at Indiana Careers in Construction. “These events are important in supporting the union construction industry as employers get a chance to create industry exposure and develop new avenues for finding talent.” 

The following organizations participated in the event by providing hands-on experiences for the students:

• Bricklayers & Allied Craft Workers Local 4 (BAC4) 
• Harmon Construction Inc.
• Harmon Steel Inc.
• Indiana Kentucky Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters (IKORCC)
• Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 481 (IBEW) 
• International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 34
• Ironworkers Local 22
• Laborers International Union of North America Local 120 (LiUna) 
• North Mechanical Contracting & Service
• Pepper Construction Company of Indiana LLC
• Sisters in the Brotherhood (IKORCC)
• Taylor Brother Construction Company Inc.
• UA Local 440 Plumbers, Steamfitters, & HVACR Service Technicians
• Weddle Brothers Construction Companies

This event was also made possible through in-kind contributions from the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Indians, Kroger, Newfields, Northern Tool and Equipment, Papa John’s Pizza, and Tinker Coffee Co.

To learn more about available Talent Bound activities that help employers engage with students, visit https://www.talentbound.org.