Program for young adults offers life and job skills training

A program is available to help teens and young adults gain job training, learn life coping skills and complete their education. 

EmployIndy, a workforce development organization, and its youth employment system, known as YES Indy, created the multi-level initiative. EmployIndy Vice President of Neighborhoods Dionne Smith said the intensive, two-week readiness program has specific goals.

“We are working with young people to help them change their mindset from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset,” Smith said. “They are learning about accountability, self-confidence, attitude, teamwork, conflict management.”

Career navigators within YES Indy serve as mentors and play a key role as the young adults make decisions about their future.

“That relationship grows for the next so many years, as a young person talks about their goals and they create a goal plan and they have elements of leadership or housing support or whatever that young person needs,” Smith said.

Program participants are between the ages of 16 and 24 who have either experienced homelessness, did not complete high school or are young parents.

Contact reporter Terri Dee at tdee@wfyi.org.