INDIANAPOLIS, April 27, 2023 – On Thursday, TeenWorks was recognized at the 22nd Annual Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity breakfast being awarded the Excellence in Youth Employment Award. This award celebrates an organization who has shown a commitment to offering youth and young adults in Indianapolis the opportunity for that first job and embraces a culture that promotes the personal growth of those individuals through mentoring and advancement.
TeenWorks President and CEO, Nick Duvall, shares “We are humbled to win this award and we are grateful for our partnership with The Mayor’s Office and EmployIndy.”
For 30 years, TeenWorks has been deeply committed to employing teens in the Indianapolis community. Many teens from low-income households have high academic and career potential but lack the necessary support, resources, and exposure they need to pursue and maintain careers in high-wage, high-demand industries. TeenWorks is the support teens need.
In 2022, TeenWorks employed 295 teens over the summer in Indianapolis. They worked a combined 70,000 hours contributing greatly to the communities they served. During the six-week summer program, teens not only learn how to be a contributing employee and act with professionalism, but they develop self-awareness and work to build skills, such as financial literacy and resume writing.
Ryan Brady, Vice President, Glick Philanthropies shares, “I’ve observed TeenWorks’ impact for many years and heard countless stories of success, but one stands out. Maria De Leon, the daughter of immigrants from Guatemala, began her TeenWorks journey at the age of 15 and was one of the most engaged participants. She was the first in her family to graduate from high school, paving the way for her younger siblings who are now involved in TeenWorks too. As Maria pursued higher education at Butler, as a Lilly scholar, she continued to volunteer with TeenWorks because of the impact it made on her in high school. After a summer internship with Eli Lilly and Company during college, Maria was offered a full-time, postgraduate position as an HR Associate at Eli Lilly. She accepted the job, where she currently works today, but first asked to delay her start until August so she could spend the summer giving back as a supervisor with TeenWorks – something Eli Lilly was proud to support. This multi-year TeenWorks experience helped Maria build a strong foundation, learn about Indianapolis, and prepare for a meaningful career”
By participating in TeenWorks, teens are introduced to work and education opportunities they would not have been aware of beforehand that will ultimately allow them to achieve upward economic mobility. TeenWorks helps teens discover their potential and create pathways out of poverty.
