Youth Services | EmployIndy

EmployIndy structures its efforts as “prevention” – preventing those who are on an in-school trajectory from dropping out – and “intervention” – reaching young people who are disconnected from school so they can get on a positive trajectory. Read more below, or click the logos for more detailed information.

In-School Youth

Strong partnerships with educational institutions including Ivy Tech, IPS, and other school districts are at the foundation of our in-school Youth Services:

  • We also oversee Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) within Marion County, which has programming in 15 high schools. JAG is designed to offer a wide range of opportunities to high school students as a means of dropout prevention and to ensure graduates are prepared for next steps after high school.
  • Indy Achieves was created to help Indy residents pursue and complete a postsecondary education and works to make the journey easier for Indianapolis families by removing barriers and providing a debt-free pathway to a better future.
  • Talent Bound offers activities through three phases of work-based learning that continually enhance students’ educations and prepare them for careers. Integrated academic and career experiences empower Indy’s youth and young adults to follow career pathways that lead to economic mobility and future prosperity. In addition, Modern Apprenticeship (MAP) prepares Central Indiana high school students for the workforce with paid, hands-on experience that complements their traditional coursework.

EmployIndy is also heavily involved in key youth activities such as JA JobSpark, TeenWorks, Congressman Carson’s Youth Opportunities Fair, and more.

Opportunity Youth

Opportunity youth are people age 16-24 who have become disconnected from school and/or work, and are in need of support to reconnect them on a career path:

  • EmployIndy works to reach this population through YES Indy, EmployIndy’s program to serve these residents, primarily funded through a major investment from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.
  • EmployIndy also reaches this population through our innovative YES Indy Re-Engagement Centers (RECs) which use sports recreation as a hook (primarily open gym basketball), connecting participants to education, case management, workforce development training, industry certifications, and job placement services when they are ready.

From the basketball court 

to a career.

Our innovative YES Indy RECs use sports recreation as a hook (primarily open gym basketball), connecting participants to education, case management, workforce development training, industry certifications, and job placement services when they are ready.

Indy Achieves
Indy Achieves
Initiative aiming to make it possible for every resident to pursue free postsecondary education
JAG Indiana
JAG Indiana
JAG is a national program that prepares high school juniors and seniors for a career
Job Ready Indy
Job Ready Indy
Program teaching employability skills to Indianapolis residents in the community
Project Indy
Project Indy
Mayor Hogsett's youth jobs program to employ Marion County young people
YES Indy
YES Indy
YES Indy supports 16-24 year olds who are disconnected from work and/or school

Additional Youth Services

EmployIndy also offers youth the opportunity to connect with employment opportunities through the following programs and initiatives:

  • Through a collaboration between EmployIndy, Mayor Joe Hogsett and the Indy Chamber, our Job Ready Indy curriculum was developed to offer job seekers a clear path to success in work. A major component of Job Ready Indy is its online badging, allowing participants a unique URL to share on their resume for employers to see that they are, indeed job ready.
  • Also in collaboration with Mayor Joe Hogsett and the City of Indianapolis, Project Indy is comprised of a network of community organizations, employers, and corporate partners who are providing job opportunities, soft-skill development and job-readiness training to in-school and out-of-school youth in Marion County.

How can we affect Indy’s young people together?

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