For William Minion, art has always been an important part of his life since childhood. From sketching, he slowly introduced himself to public art, first through whiteboard drawings and eventually spray paint. But turning that passion into large-scale murals was often out of reach. Minion typically had to save for months from his EMT paycheck to fund his projects.
That changed when he joined Launch Lab, an 8-week pilot program by EmployIndy, powered by GANGGANG in partnership with Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center. The program didn’t just teach him business skills; it gave him the resources and confidence to create without compromise.
“With Launch Lab, I’m there to learn, but I’m also getting paid, which is a plus, and then I can use that money to fund a mural for my portfolio, which is another plus,” Minion says.
Beyond funding, the program offered mentorship and networking opportunities that Minion says were invaluable. “The most valuable part for me is probably being able to interact with artists who you look up to and respect,” he explains. “They’re there to give you advice and help you grow your business.”
In the program, participants dove deep into essential entrepreneurial skills, learning how to craft compelling brand stories and elevator pitches, navigate financial requirements, establish LLCs, and set sustainable pricing strategies, including how to pay themselves.
“Programs like Launch Lab are essential for shaping the future of creative entrepreneurship,” says Nigel Long, director of the Indianapolis market for GANGGANG. “By empowering youth with culturally grounded mentorship, real-world resources, and direct access to industry leaders, Launch Lab builds confidence, community, and pathways to sustainable success.”
All 11 participants in the first cohort completed the program, demonstrating the power of culturally grounded, community-driven support. For Minion and this group of young entrepreneurs, the program is more than training; it’s a launchpad for dreams.
Are you ready to get connected to the resources you need to explore careers, get hired, or grow your skills? Learn more at www.employindy.org/explore-services.
Worker mobility is more than just transitioning from one job to another—it’s about empowering individuals to climb career ladders that lead to greater skills, earnings, and long-term stability, ultimately driving business success. At EmployIndy, this mission comes to life through employer partnerships, career coaching, and training that builds transferable skills and connects job seekers to meaningful opportunities.
By aligning career pathways and training within high-demand industries like advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and construction, we help workers move from entry-level positions into sustainable, high-wage careers. For father of two, RaeSean Franklin, his time in YES Indy’s Advanced Manufacturing Training program helped kickstart his career journey that’s seen him move from the manufacturing floor at Fastenal to obtaining his CDL license and becoming a long-haul trucker with First Team Trucking.
Employer Partnerships Power Career Advancement
EmployIndy’s employer partnerships are designed to meet business needs while advancing employee potential. And when employers invest in career mobility, they gain access to motivated individuals who are ready to grow. By collaborating with local companies, we help employers:
Fill open roles with trained, enthusiastic candidates
Create internal career ladders to retain and grow talent
Align workforce development with industry-specific skills and certifications
“RaeSean was exactly what we were looking for in our new candidates,” said Jake Sisk, EHS & Sustainability Manager at Fastenal. “He came with enthusiasm, asked a lot of questions, and became a really valuable team member both on the floor and in our manufacturing hub.”
For the employer, collaboration with EmployIndy improves their talent pipelines, connecting them to eager candidates, like RaeSean, who have developed important skills and earned certifications that make them valuable team members. In 2024, 1,233 unique businesses partnered with EmployIndy to strengthen their workforce strategies — from talent attraction and retention to leveraging labor market insights.
From the Manufacturing Floor to Discovering His Passion for Trucking
“I love it. It’s awesome and I really like the adventure of being on the road and going to states I’ve never been to before,” said RaeSean Franklin. “I’m thankful for the way my career is panning out. I have my advanced manufacturing certification and that’s something I’ll hold on to, even though I really like what I’m doing now.”
Having originally been connected to Fastenal through their partnership with EmployIndy, RaeSean started on their production floor where he spent two years gaining skills and experience. When the opportunity arose, he transitioned to their manufacturing hub where he began driving a truck. It was here that he first began enjoying his time behind the wheel and decided to pursue obtaining his CDL. He’s since joined First Team Trucking as a full-time driver.
Beyond enjoying his work and learning transferable skills, both his time at Fastenal and as a truck driver helped him increase his earnings, allowing him to better provide for his two daughters. “My daughters are just spoiled now,” laughed RaeSean. “My career has done so much for us, beyond just having our basic needs, but actually also getting the things that we want.” Looking to the future, RaeSean says he wants to eventually own his own trucking company, with a focus on helping justice-involved individuals like himself get connected to meaningful career opportunities in the trucking industry.
Let’s Build Your Workforce Together
Employers who partner with EmployIndy gain access to a pool of trained, motivated talent and support in building internal career pathways that retain and grow their workforce.
Interested in strengthening your talent pipeline and creating meaningful career opportunities for Central Indiana job seekers? Contact our team at [email protected].
In today’s rapidly evolving economy, the success of a region depends on how well its systems—workforce development, education, economic growth, and community services—work together. At EmployIndy, this isn’t just a vision; it’s a strategy in action.
As Indianapolis’ workforce development board, EmployIndy plays a pivotal role in aligning resources and partners to ensure job seekers receive the right support at the right time, and employers access the talent they need without unnecessary delays or duplication. Through cross-sector collaboration, policy advocacy, and innovative programming, EmployIndy builds an integrated system that maximizes resources and streamlines service delivery.
Here’s how we’re making it happen:
Bridging Classrooms and Careers
EmployIndy is transforming how young people prepare for the workforce by embedding career-connected learning into the K–12 experience. Through initiatives like Talent Bound and the Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP), students gain hands-on experience in high-demand industries such as healthcare, business operations, and advanced manufacturing.
Over 599 employers and 142 youth apprentices from 12 high schools are engaged in career-connected learning within these programs.
IPS student participation in work-based learning has increased by 600%.
As part of the Accelerate ED initiative, EmployIndy helped launch a pathway blueprint for Cybersecurity that allows students to earn dual credits and industry-recognized certifications starting in 9th grade—setting them on a fast track to high-wage careers.
Removing Barriers to Success
EmployIndy understands that career readiness goes beyond skills—it’s also about support. That’s why we’ve built a robust coaching and training infrastructure. Last year, 10,923 clients and participants enrolled in EmployIndy programs and initiatives to receive career coaching, training, and wraparound services.
Indy Achieves, in partnership with IU Indianapolis, removes financial barriers to postsecondary education by promoting access to financial aid, offering Promise Scholarships and Completion Grants, and providing wraparound support services for Marion County students.
In 2024 alone, it supported 2,224 scholars, generating an estimated $11.8 million in economic benefit.
The YES Indy network, in partnership with community-based organizations (CBO) across the city, offers job readiness training in tandem with barrier-busting supports like childcare and transportation.
Last year, YES Indy helped participants earn 275 certifications in high-demand fields.
Matching People to Opportunity
EmployIndy’s Talent Connection initiatives, including WorkOne Indy, streamline how job seekers and employers connect—delivering efficient, targeted engagement. Through strategic partnerships, community outreach, and employer-driven programming, these efforts help reduce barriers to employment and accelerate hiring timelines.
3,309 individuals were placed in good or promising jobs in 2024.
Last year, weekly hiring events at WorkOne Indy attracted 14,559 job seekers and connected them with 259 unique employers.
By maximizing efficiency in the hiring process, EmployIndy’s Talent Connection efforts not only offer real-time access to opportunities across a wide range of industries but also help businesses fill roles more quickly with qualified candidates—creating a more agile and responsive labor market in Marion County.
We’ve collaborated with IU Indianapolis and IPS to create a Seamless Admission process for students with a 3.0 GPA—eliminating application fees and paperwork.
We’ve influenced key legislation, including:
HB 1243: A new diploma focused on career readiness.
SB 8: Flexible postsecondary pathways.
HB 1001: Streamlined career scholarship and coaching grants.
We’ve developed a Career Advising Framework now used statewide to guide career coaching in schools.
To date, 128 employers have been certified for paying at least $18/hour and offering health benefits.
Last year, this resulted in $5.81 million in increased wages, improving retention and economic mobility for workers.
By raising wages and expanding benefits, the Good Wages Initiative fosters a resilient, inclusive labor market that benefits workers, employers, and the broader community.
The Power of Partnership: A Model for Modern Workforce Development
This integrated approach reflects EmployIndy’s commitment to building a coordinated network that reduces duplication, accelerates access to opportunity, and delivers measurable outcomes for individuals and employers alike.
Interested in getting involved? Reach out to [email protected] to get connected.
When Melissa “Mars” Anderson-Wust, a recent graduate of Avon High School, applied to a competitive position at a Central Indiana nature park, she was hopeful that the opportunity would be her first step towards building a career as a wildlife educator or naturalist, something she’d been interested in from a young age. But when they opted to move forward with another candidate, she was left wondering how she might start building her career without prior professional experience in parks and recreation.
“When I learned about the Indy Parks Corps Training with YES Indy, I was so excited and applied immediately,” Mars said. “I was hopeful that this would be a way to gain certifications and experience to help me stand out when applying for jobs at parks in Indy.” Mars was accepted into the program, an EmployIndy led 13-week paid cohort-style training that included phases focused on job readiness, earning industry certifications, work experience (WEX) internships, and job placement assistance. As a part of EmployIndy’s Coaching + Training efforts, YES 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.
After completing the initial training phases of the program, Mars was paired with Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) for her month-long WEX internship, where her love for animals and work ethic helped her excel as she learned how IACS protects and promotes the health, safety, and welfare of pets and livestock in Marion County.
After completing the full program, Mars described herself as “ready.” And IACS agreed. Having had Mars as an intern, they moved quickly to hire her full time into an Adoptions Counselor role, where she monitors and evaluates animal behavior as well as assists clients who are looking to adopt.
“Working with animals can be a difficult job, making it difficult to hire people here,” said Colleen Walker, Public Information Officer at IACS. “But having candidates with experience, like Mars, is incredibly valuable. Experienced candidates often integrate quickly and previously having her here as an intern made the decision to hire her an easy one.”
In 2024, 10,923 individuals in Marion County enrolled in coaching and training through EmployIndy programs—gaining the skills and support needed to find employment and succeed in the workplace. Additionally, EmployIndy and our YES Indy network of community-based organizations (CBO) helped 275 young people, who were disconnected from education and employment, earn certifications in advanced trainings.
To learn more about job readiness and training opportunities with YES Indy, visit yesindy317.org. Interested in connecting with job ready candidates? Reach out to [email protected] to get connected.
“I want her to be able to follow in my footsteps and know they will lead her to greatness.”
As Trayveonshay (Tray) Stone, 21, stood watching his fellow cohort participants celebrate, he held his one-year old daughter. When asked how he was feeling, his response was simple: happy.
Tray and eleven other Indy youth were celebrating their recent completion of YouthBuild Indy’s Construction Training program. Led by EmployIndy and in partnership with AmeriCorps, YouthBuild Indy offers participants the opportunity to earn their high school equivalency (HSE), a NCCER construction certification, an AmeriCorps education award, participate in a 3-week work experience (WEX), and be placed in a job, all while getting paid to learn.
Tray shared how he struggled a lot in high school. It was difficult for him to learn in a traditional classroom setting and even when he asked for help, he still felt left behind. Like all of us, he just wanted to fit in. Sports offered a chance for him to connect with others, but when that didn’t work out, he started skipping school and eventually, stopped going altogether.
There are roughly 15,800 youth in Marion County, who are disconnected from education and employment. Like Tray, some struggled in school. Other reasons for disconnection include inadequate access to job training, homelessness, involvement with the justice system, or lack of familial support.
When he heard about YouthBuild Indy through his grandmother’s church, he reached out and got connected.
“I saw a career and an opportunity to make money. I felt like this could be the start of me finding my path,” Tray said. He shared about earning his Indiana HSE, as a part of the program, through Marian University. He went on to express his gratitude for several intangibles he’s taken away from the experience as well, such as learning patience, better communication skills, and dealing with his personal trauma. As a part of the 18-week program, participants also complete the YES Indy Power Huddle, a two-week job readiness experience with a focus on moving from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.
Tray is currently applying the skills he learned in the program at Godby Hearth & Home, working as an installer. Looking to the future, he hopes to stay in construction and focus on carpentry, which is something he really enjoys doing. No matter where his career path takes him, he feels this experience has helped him “learn how to be a better dad, a better son, a better brother, and a better spouse.”
To learn more about YouthBuild Indy and get connected to future opportunities, visit www.youthbuildindy.org.
In a room full of cheering automotive service technicians and career navigators, three young menwere given the opportunity to put pen to paper and take a big step in their professional journey. There was a palpable sense of excitement as well as relief as Jeff Klein, Service and Parts Director at Champion Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Indianapolis, handed them their offer letters. After seeing these young men put in the hard work and effort over the past week, Klein and his team offered encouragement, wisdom and importantly, a chance to join their team.
These three young men, along with several students participating at Ed Martin Buick GMC, each completed a weeklong Automotive Service Technician Training through YES Indy. These Industry Trainings provide students with the opportunity to gain valuable experience in a specific industry, build a foundation and work towards earning an employment offer. Since July 2020, roughly 45 individuals have completed one of the four Industry Trainings regularly offered by YES Indy: Automotive Service Technician Training, Construction Level-1 Generalist Training, Salesforce Administrator Training and Logistics Warehouse Associate Training.
“I loved it. I learned how to change oil, tires, brakes, and filters. My tech was good at answering my questions and I learned a lot.” said Marcus Lewis, a YES Indy participant who spent his time training at Champion Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.
“We’re very excited about what they’ve learned with us.” Said Kathy Cameron, Director of Fixed Operations at Ed Martin Buick GMC. YES Indy partners Champion Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Ed Martin Buick GMC, both located on Indy’s North side, are passionate about providing young people with the opportunity to explore new career fields and better themselves. “Tommie worked with two different automotive techs, with one being a GM World Class tech. Not many achieve that level.” Continued Cameron as she stood smiling next to Tommie, who had impressed during his week of training at Ed Martin Buick GMC. Thanks to his hard work and diligence, Tommie also received an offer of employment after completing his Industry Training.
Through a partnership between YES Indy, Flanner House of Indianapolis, Marian University and Nine13sports, participants not only had the opportunity to join the Automotive Service Technician Training, but also received several weeks of job readiness training, education support and career navigation through Flanner House programming. “Their growth in such a quick time frame is amazing. It’s wonderful to be able to put together a program where they can explore a new career field and make it into something that can sustain them for life.” Said Sibeko Jywanza, Director of Food Justice for Flanner House of Indianapolis.
Through the YES Indy Power Huddle, young persons are provided the tools to develop important employability and life skills as well as earn two Job Ready Indy badges: Mindsets and Social Skills. Both the YES Indy Power Huddle and YES Indy Industry Trainings are available for Marion County youth ages 16 – 24 who are not attending high school or college.
January is National Mentoring Month, celebrating the nature of mentorship in its ability to amplify change and help young people find and follow their passions, one relationship at a time. With a strategic goal to create a positive trajectory for young adults to actively participate in the workforce, EmployIndy uses mentorship to engage Marion County youth and prepare them for a future of success. By meeting students and young people where they are, local business leaders and educators work alongside EmployIndy staff to share experiences and expertise that both foster career development and bring inspiration.
“Hi Ana! Just checking in to see how you’re doing being home from school? I’ll be sending info later on registering for orientation, but I’m here if you need anything. Stay healthy.”
Each school year, hundreds of Indy Achieves students planning to attend IUPUI and Ivy Tech have the opportunity to connect with a mentor, a local community or business leader, and receive support through text messages, like the one above. Born out of the belief that all Indianapolis residents should have the ability to pursue and complete a postsecondary credential or degree program, Indy Achieves staff and mentors diligently offer support to students in everything ranging from filing for FAFSA to registering for classes. This mentorship goes a long way in preventing summer melt, a phenomenon where high school graduates and returning students never make it to classes in the Fall due to overlooked letters and emails, unfinished financial aid forms, failure to turn in important health documents, and more. In 2019, over 70% of Indy Achieves students took advantage of this mentorship offering and received the support they needed to start or continue their postsecondary.
Through Talent Bound, high school students have the opportunity to connect with local employers and business leaders, called Talent Mentors. In a group setting, students gain career knowledge, industry exposure and develop their personal network as they meet virtually and in-person with their Talent Mentor. In 2020, Talent Mentors worked with students at 25 mentoring events, impacting the lives of over 145 students within the IPS school system. These students had the opportunity to learn about competencies, expectations and experiences within the health sciences, business & finance, cosmetology, culinary, computer science, automotive, advanced manufacturing, military, construction and visual arts industries.
Young people outside of the education system also have the opportunity to engage in mentorship through the YES Indy Power Huddle program. Power Huddle works to mentor local youth through a two-week intensive training where individuals learn how they can change their future trajectory that will help them take the next step in furthering their education or career. To provide support and accountability, Power Huddle instructors use mentorship and relationship building to help move participants from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Through adult mentoring within the Power Huddle program, students also develop employability skills, find help with career navigation, receive life coaching, job readiness training, adult education services, and counseling.
If you would like to help prepare Marion County’s youth and young adults for the workforce through mentorship, use the links below to find out how you can become involved with an EmployIndy-led program:
Become a mentor to a local high school student pursuing postsecondary through Ivy Tech or IUPUI:
“Being in the YES Indy program with EmployIndy helped me out a lot. I was in a position in life where I didn’t know where I was headed. I learned how to be confident and speak up for myself,” said RaeSean Franklin, sitting in the breakroom at Fastenal where he works full-time on the production floor helping to create industrial and construction products.
Prior to enrolling in the training, RaeSean was working at Burger King and was living between his parents’ houses after being evicted. Having recently become a new father, he was drawn to the idea of finding stable housing and was looking for ways to increase his income. Through his participation with PACE and his interest in getting on a career pathway, he enrolled in the 13-week Advanced Manufacturing earn-while-you-learn training that consisted of job readiness, 160 hours of manufacturing theory and lab, on-the-job training, and job placement.
“I didn’t imagine myself in a manufacturing job at first but when the opportunity presented itself, I was willing to do anything as I knew I could leave with skills that I could use later in life,” said RaeSean. After completing the training, he was offered full-time employment with Fastenal, starting at $17 per hour. Now earning a livable wage, he’s been able to obtain independent housing and is on a path to career growth. Having been working for the company for six months, RaeSean even negotiated a wage increase and is now earning $18.75 per hour.
Along with building a foundation for his daughter through his new career, RaeSean also gives back by speaking to new cohorts enrolled in the YES Indy Advanced Manufacturing training.
If you or someone you know is looking to take the next step and get on a career pathway, check out available training programs at www.yesindy317.org/industry-trainings.
Nothing brings people together in Indiana more than a good game of basketball. When two teams tipped off the 2023 YES Indy Pivot League championship game at Mount Carmel Church in Indianapolis, the gym was filled with excitement as spectators were treated to a high-energy game. During halftime, EmployIndy’s Executive Vice President of Workforce Solutions, Rev. Rodney Francis, and District 14 Councillor, La Keisha Jackson, recognized this year’s sponsors for their support in elevating the Pivot League and local community efforts. The evening concluded with an awards ceremony where the winning team, representing the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE), was awarded a check for $3,000.
The YES Indy PIVOT League is an 8-week basketball league, first launched in 2021, designed to bring young adults into a safe place where they can build relationships and connect to services that help them move forward in their education and career. In Central Indiana, there are roughly 30,000 Opportunity Youth, or young people, ages 16-24, who are not currently engaged in education or the workforce. The mission of EmployIndy’s “Youth Employment System” (YES) and the Pivot League is to create a positive trajectory for these young adults by getting them re-engaged and providing opportunities and pathways to prepare them for future success.
“The PIVOT League grew out of our Re-Engagement Centers (RECs), which offer open gym basketball as a workforce recruitment strategy to re-engage disconnected young adults,” said Rev. Francis. “It’s the only league primarily focused on improving players’ stats off the court.” To participate in the League, young adults must “pivot” towards engagement in education by enrolling in a GED/HSE program, college, industry training, or YES Indy, or by being connected to gainful employment.
“I signed up for the basketball league because I think my team can win it,” said Duran Lewis, Pivot League participant. “ I also recently completed a Power Huddle with YES Indy and I got some good life lessons out of it. It taught me to be myself, keep pushing, and most of all to be grateful. Right now I am in the YouthBuild program and I enrolled to get my GED through Edna Martin Christian Center at Martin University.”
One way that YES Indy helps to break down mindset barriers for young people, regardless of their history, is through the YES Indy Power Huddle program, a two-week job readiness experience where individuals learn how they can change their future trajectory as well as develop a variety of employability skills that will help them map out and work towards reaching their academic, career, and life goals. For young people like Duran, getting involved on the court through open gyms at a YES Indy REC or through participating in the Pivot League often leads to getting connected to helpful programs and services off the court, like the Power Huddle.
“The City League understands the power that basketball holds in our culture. We are excited to work with EmployIndy to bring high-level basketball to the young men of Indianapolis, while also helping participants get connected to people and training, giving them the necessary opportunities to move forward in life.” said Austin Taylor, Executive Director of The City League. As a key partner and organizer for the Pivot League, The City League’s reputation as a leader in organizing high-level basketball in our city has been an important asset as the Pivot League seeks to attract players and fans.
EmployIndy’s partnership with Mt. Carmel Church has also been a key component of the league as it seeks to create a safe space for players to grow off the court as well as on it. “Mt. Carmel Church is a church of the community, finding ways to demonstrate our love for God and our neighbor through education and socially, and financially empowering our community,” said Rev. Lola Bartlett, a Mt. Carmel Church staff member. “Working with YES Indy and The City League helps us in fulfilling our mission by educating our young men and providing them with a constructive place to practice being a team in the game and in life.“
The Pivot League would like to extend a big thank you to this year’s volunteers and organizations that make this collaborative league possible. This year’s sponsors include Finish Line Foundation, Training for Success LLC, Turner Housing, Mt. Carmel Church, EmployIndy, CAFE, FASTENAL, and Heritage Group.
The Pivot League will return in the Spring of 2024, but YES Indy RECs and The City League will continue to offer ongoing opportunities for young people in our city, through open gym sessions at the YES Indy RECs and other basketball tournaments throughout the year via The City League. If you’re a young person looking to get connected to employment services, visit the YES Indy website.
For Indianapolis employers or community partners who are interested in participating and sponsoring the 2024 Pivot League, please fill out the league sponsor form.
While the record unemployment numbers seen during the COVID-19 global health crisis are in the rearview mirror, there are still hindrances for residents in Marion County when seeking out employment, including connecting with hiring employers and finding the personalized support needed to take advantage of new employment opportunities.
Utilizing the Ascend Network, an online technology platform from Ascend Indiana, Rapid Re-Employment Response pairs job seekers with a skilled recruiter who, through personalized support, works to connect them to career opportunities and resources based on their interests and skills.
“The success of our Talent Connection services, and Rapid Re-Employment Response, has been greatly bolstered by the work from our recruitment managers,” said Tiffani McLaurin, Director, Talent Network. “The human element that’s provided to job seekers is crucial in helping them have the confidence and perseverance needed as they seek out new opportunities.”
So far in 2023, Rapid Re-Employment Response has connected 133 individuals to jobs in Marion County. Additionally, expanded outreach and marketing strategies have led to a 282% increase in monthly active users compared to active users seen in 2022.
As the workforce development board for Marion County and an intermediary, EmployIndy serves both workers seeking employment and businesses seeking talent. Individualized connection services, like Rapid Re-Employment Response, create efficiencies in the job-placement process, helping ensure the best fit for both parties.
In program year 2022, EmployIndy helped placed a total of over 2,100 individuals in good and promising jobs as a result of direct intervention. Through our Wednesdays @ WorkOne weekly hiring events that take place at our full-service location on the city’s Eastside, 1,084 individuals were connected to hiring employers where they went on to obtain employment. And through our Youth Employment System, YES Indy, 383 youth, ages 16-24, were placed in jobs after completing various industry trainings or work experiences. These larger talent connection efforts help serve both workers seeking employment and businesses seeking talent, resulting in a streamlined job-placement process that lands more Marion County workers in good and promising jobs.
Job seekers looking to find personalized support for their employment search are encouraged to learn more and get started today at www.employindy.org/rapidreemploymentresponse.
“We need passionate leaders to advocate on their behalf when they can’t.”
In October, Essence Gray and Josh Morrow had the opportunity to do that very thing. Serving as policy liaisons on the National Youth Employment Coalition’s (NYEC) Youth Advisory Council (YAC), both Indy natives had the chance to travel to Washington D.C. to participate in NYEC’s inaugural Youth Days, an annual event that fosters education and empowerment both of young people and the practitioners who serve them.
“In many ways, Essence’s educational and career journey, with its starts and stops, highs and lows, many due to life happenings and system barriers, is indicative of so many of the Opportunity Youth (OY) we encounter,” said Rev Rodney Francis, Executive Vice President, Workforce Solutions, at EmployIndy. “She has not given up on her dreams and instead persisted. In this way, she’s a leader among her peers.” Through YES Indy, EmployIndy’s Youth Employment System, Gray completed the Power Huddle in April of 2020, a two-week job readiness experience, which helped her develop a growth mindset and an appetite for making positive changes in herself and for her fellow youth. Despite having struggled with homelessness, involvement with the justice system, grief from the tragic loss of loved ones, and system barriers, Gray has remained focused and has taken advantage of the employment training and services offered to her by EmployIndy and its community-based partner organizations, even securing an internship with EmployIndy’s Strategy and Research team at the end of 2020.
While in Washington D.C. for Youth Days, she attended policy meetings, presented at a breakout session on the current challenges for today’s youth, as well as spoke about youth gun violence in Indianapolis and how it has affected her and her community. When asked about other highlights from the trip, she was quick to share that meeting Congressman Andre Carson was a moment she says she will always remember. “His staff was very Hoosier and welcoming, which made me feel like I was back at home,” she said. Walking into his office, Congressman Carson told Gray to have a seat at his desk and that one day “it may very well be your seat.” She spoke with him about the work she would like to do and how he can better help the youth in Indianapolis.
“These past few months since returning from Washington D.C., I’ve started a family strengthening class that is helping me to better myself for the ones around me. I’m still doing youth leadership advocacy work but have also tapped into my management skills and now help manage local music artists, as a part of work to help co-found a music record label,” said Gray.
For Josh Morrow, who has also experienced hardships and struggles with system barriers similar to Gray, it’s about forward movement and continued progress. “Right now, I’m just learning and taking every opportunity,” said Morrow, who first became involved with NYEC through the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE), a YES Indy partner organization and referral source for young people looking for career and employment support. “I believe I bring lived experiences and a deep understanding of the skilled trade employment market.” Morrow added about his time thus far serving on the Youth Advisory Council. Since visiting Washington D.C. for Youth Days, Morrow has continued to focus on youth development and employment advocacy, working as a mentor recruiter for Trusted Mentors.
Gray’s and Morrow’s determination toward an upward trajectory underscores the importance that their voices have had and will continue to play at the national level, where critical youth-focused policies are shaped. And as they continue to advocate for themselves and others who are facing barriers to education and employment here in Indianapolis, they will hold their experiences in our nation’s capital close.
Young people, ages 16-24, who are interested in getting connected to barrier-busting support as well as connection to education, training, and job opportunities, are encouraged to visit https://yesindy317.org.
