Name: Simone Murray
Email: Simone@directemployersinstitute.org
Phone Indiana Office: 317-388-5362
Phone West Palm Beach Office: 561-814-6119
Experience is the key to unlock success’s door. We offer programs to empower middle, high school, and college students, especially the underserved and underexposed we help to thrive. Hands-on learning, career exploration galore, workplace preparation, all that and more.
Our 2012 Youth Enhancement Summer Program (YES!), now called STEM YES!, is an intense summer program for underserved, underrepresented Central Indiana students in grades 10-12 to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) careers in a work-based environment. During STEM YES!, students develop competencies in teamwork, presentation skills, business planning, social etiquette, and customer service as they experience day-to-day work in the business lines of management, product/service development, marketing, finance, and operations.
We place students interested in experiencing a real work environment as part of their career exploration process with Central Indiana employers interested in developing a more diverse workforce. Our close ties to DirectEmployers Association have enabled us to form strong relationships with over 700 companies looking for linkages to talented future employees. We arrange for local employers to provide one day to one-week job shadowing opportunities for grades 6-10. We also work to connect students in grades 11-12 with employers through semester-long internship opportunities.
We offer hands-on STEM educational programming for students in grades 6-12 at our STEM Learning Labs located on-site at select schools, community centers, and other flexible spaces. Learning Labs contain actual workplace equipment and replicate the corporate culture and business practices of our employer partners. This special program offers students the rare opportunity to gain valuable career readiness skills while working side-by-side with STEM professionals in their school environment.
15
Workplace Simulation Program
150
Job Shadow Partners
1704
Students Impacted 2022
10,000+
Volunteer Hours
DirectEmployers Institute is honored to receive the Strengthening Youth Programs in Indiana (SYPI) grant from Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) — a continuation of our previous SYPI funding. This support helps us continue growing, providing experiences, and building confidence in the students we serve.