Stephanie Bothun is Vice President and Cofounder of Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), which is an organization that brings together industry, higher education, and philanthropic leaders to advance our region’s prosperity and growth. She is also a proud alum of the MDLF Program:

Project:

“As a fellow, my project was to launch a modern youth apprenticeship program for high school students to serve as Indiana’s next generation talent pipeline strategy. Modern Apprenticeship (MAP) is a two- to three-year program designed to meet employers’ talent needs by preparing Central Indiana high school students for the workforce with paid, hands-on experience that complements their traditional coursework. Apprentices start in their junior year and emerge with a high school diploma, college credits, relevant credentials, and professional experience in a growing field. Afterward, they can continue to a college degree or jump right into the workforce.”

Project Progress:

“Ascend, in partnership with Marion County’s workforce development board, EmployIndy, launched MAP in Fall 2020 (link here) with a significant lead gift from the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation (led by MDLF Board Member Claire Fiddian-Green). 16 employer partners across industries such as technology (with support from MDLF Fellow Lauren Petersen), business operations, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing have committed to participating in our pilot. On May 15, 2021, we held a ceremony to celebrate our first 26 apprentices as they signed a certificate of acceptance to begin their journey alongside these employer partners (see link).”

Takeaway from the MDLF Program:

“While the near-term goal was to launch a youth apprenticeship program, this work is much bigger: it is about systems change. As a Fellow, I learned that systems change requires three things: first, a collective understanding of challenges. Second, a deep sense of possibility that we can and should do better. And finally, it requires strong partnerships to produce meaningful outcomes. MDLF has played a critical role in my development, and it undoubtedly leads to systems change for our region by making each of these key components possible: highlighting Indiana’s strengths and challenges, elevating existing efforts to make change, and developing strong connections between individuals across geographies. I’m extremely grateful for my experience as an MDLF Fellow!”