Jessica Brown, 1955-2018

As EmployIndy strives to guide the workforce here in Indianapolis, we find ourselves in a position of focus on connecting people to jobs and careers. But a job is more than a paycheck. More than skills. More than a bottom line. More than a worker, and more than an employer. Employment brings people together, for a common goal, in a place where personal, human interactions take place daily.

On April 18th, the EmployIndy family learned that our dear coworker and friend, Jessica Brown, passed away suddenly. Words like “shocked” and “saddened” don't do justice to the impact that we all felt in the days since. Jessica has been a bright spot – a source of laughter and kindness – at EmployIndy for over a decade. Handling our key administrative duties, she maintained a steady hand on calendars, organization, board administration, meetings, and day-to-day office life through various leadership and organizational changes.

Her desk was adorned with photos of nature – animals and flowers keeping a colorful watch on the office as she supported our mission with a personal and professional investment. She was the “mom” of the office. She was the phone call, the email, the quip, the smile, and the hug that we all leaned on.

We will be accepting donations toward a new scholarship that is being created in Jessica's honor. The scholarship will be awarded to a young adult that exemplifies Jessica's spirit through dedication, hard work, a passion for community service, a genuine interest in the lives of their peers, and random acts of kindness. In this first year, the student must be a high school senior enrolled in Jobs for America's Graduates and can be nominated by one of their JAG peers, a JAG specialist, or a member of the JAG administrative team. The award will be presented at the Annual Senior Send-off Celebration at the end of the school year, with the possibility of becoming an annual award – DONATE HERE.

We thank all of our friends and partners for the kind words, shared stories, and patience as we work through this difficult time. Jessica's memory lives on in the work that we do every day.

Angela Carr Klitzsch
EmployIndy President & CEO