Students studying operations management in UIndy’s MBA program met with the management team at Goodwill to learn how hiring disabled and formerly incarcerated employees can make a tremendous impact.

“As a future leader, I want to be someone who has a people-first business strategy,” says Alice Whitaker, MBA student with a concentration in organizational leadership.

According to the Center for American Progress, formerly incarcerated people in the U.S. face a 27% unemployment rate—nearly five times higher than the unemployment rate of the general public. Employment for people with disabilities rests at 17.9%, which is 3.5x lower than employment among those without a disability.

“As future business leaders, the students will be in a position to affect change throughout their communities,'' says Jim Humphrey, vice president of Goodwill Commercial Services.” “We’re proud to introduce them to some of our employees.”

Service-learning opportunities like these only happen because of gifts made to the University of Indianapolis. #BackOurPack and empower students for effective and responsible membership in our society. 

During the summer of 2022, student volunteers collaborated with the Police Department and UIndy’s Criminal Justice faculty and Professional Edge Center to assist training police recruits with community-informed strategies used in the line of duty.

Labeled as “Cultural Competency,” this training is designed to produce positive interactions between police officers and citizens of color by sharing knowledge about the history, culture, and experiences of marginalized groups.

Students provided the critical component of “role-playing” citizens, interacting with the recruit officers in “real-world” scenarios such as traffic stops and domestic disturbances.

Results showed a positive connection between an officer’s cultural knowledge, de-escalation skills, and the quality of the interactions. 

Support students at the University of Indianapolis as they continue to create positive outcomes in our community. Make a gift to the University of Indianapolis and #BackOurPack by sharing your service-learning story on social media.

Students in the UIndy Jazz Ensemble provide free concerts for individuals with dementia featuring timeless music from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s through a public concert series: “Musical Memory Cafe.”

“We’re absolutely glad to be a part of this program,” said Mark O’Connor, Director of Jazz Studies at UIndy. “I try to tailor it to the music from or at least the styles that are associated with that more popular music and period of jazz.” 

Students in the jazz ensemble not only develop their artistic talents during these performances, but also improve the lives of people with dementia. “If you play music from the past, it will light up their day,” says Becky Fee, Project Assistant for the Center for Aging Community at UIndy. “Research has shown that music is something that your brain continues to remember.'' 

Gifts made to the University of Indianapolis help provide these opportunities for students and the public. Becky’s hope for the Musical Memory Cafe is that “every year we can just get the word out more and more and have more people.”

Nothing says “Hoosier Hospitality'' more than providing a free fall break sports camp for youth on the Southside of Indianapolis.

Students in Dr. Jennifer VanSickle’s class, “Facility and Event Management,” designed and led a three-day sports camp where children ages 8-14 participated in health, fitness, and educational activities.

This program allowed 24 attendees to stay active in a safe environment during their fall break. UIndy students learned how to plan, organize, and implement a sports program and how to interact with and lead sports activities.

Your #GivingTuesday gifts can support student-designed programs like these for the sixth year in a row. Alumni and friends are always #BackingOurPack, just ask UIndy alum Derrick Miller, who hosted the camp at the Indy Parks Southside facility he operates!