YES Indy | EmployIndy

Originally known as Youth Employment Services, YES Indy has empowered over 6,000 low-income, out-of-school Marion County residents since 2003 through barrier-busting support (such as vouchers for child care, legal assistance, housing, or transportation), career services, and connection to education, training, and job opportunities. Acting as a guide and intermediary, EmployIndy utilizes its network of local community organizations as the purveyors of YES Indy services. We further support these partners by providing technical assistance, evidence-based best practices, and professional development opportunities through our workforce Ecosystem Enrichment programming.

EmployIndy further supports YES Indy by establishing partners to help with outreach and promotion via multiple YES Indy Re-engagement Centers (RECs). Learn more about how these unique collaborations are utilizing open gym basketball to invite these residents into a safe space to build trust and engage with services.

YES Indy providers include: CAFE, Edna Martin Christian Center, Fathers & Families, Hawthorne Community Center, Keys to Work, Martindale Brightwood CDC, Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center, and PACE Indy.

Opportunity youth – 16-24-year-olds who are disconnected from work and/or school – can be directed to yesindy317.org to learn more and connect to their nearest local provider.

YES Indy Re-engagement Centers (RECs) are designed to be locations for opportunity youth to drop in, connect with their interests, and learn about available support, education, training, and job opportunities.

Basketball is what is offered to get young people who walk in, but upon spending some time at a YES Indy Re-engagement Center (REC), participants are offered much more. Designed as an outreach and recruitment tool for YES Indy, RECs are strategically placed in areas with high poverty, high crime, and disproportionate number of residents who are disengaged from school or work. Through partnerships with both the host locations and local service providers, young men and women spend time at a REC, build trust with our re-engagement facilitators (REFs), and are guided toward available services when they are ready.

Additionally, the RECs also host two-week empowerment and mindset training courses on site called “Power Huddles.” These courses aim to help participants move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, exploring topics such as accountability, self-advocacy, conflict management, teamwork, leadership, confidence, communication, and more. Upon completion, participants earn the Mindsets and Social Skills badges from the Job Ready Indy program and are connected to a career navigator through a YES Indy service provider.

re-engagement center locations

Finish Line Boys & Girls Club – 3870 North Post Road
YES Indy provider: CAFE

Eastern Star Church – 5750 East 30th Street
YES Indy provider: Edna Martin Christian Center

Mount Carmel Church – 9610 East 42nd Street
YES Indy provider: CAFE

EmployIndy’s re-engagement centers utilize open gym basketball to bring in 16-24-year-olds who may be interested in support services through YES Indy. Learn more at yesindy317.org/rec.

See how your organization can work with YES Indy.

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