Unleashing Potential: How Summer Programs Cultivate Young Leaders in Environmental Stewardship

At Groundwork Indy, summer is where our mission comes to life in visible, hands-on ways. The Firehouse site has been filled with energy, teamwork, and possibility as young people work, learn, lead, and care for the green spaces that connect our neighborhoods.

This quarter, we’re sharing updates that show how environmental stewardship, youth employment, public art, and workforce development come together to create lasting community impact.

Art, Environment, and Youth Voice

This summer, Groundwork Indy is continuing to explore the connection between environmental justice, youth creativity, and community beautification through a developing art partnership with Arts for Learning Indiana.

Through this connection, Groundwork Indy has been introduced to artist Giselle Trujillo, whose work includes student-informed public art created with recycled materials. This project creates an exciting opportunity for young people to help shape artwork that reflects their voices, their community, and the spaces they are helping care for.

For Groundwork Indy, public art is more than decoration. Creative installations can help transform outdoor spaces, discourage illegal dumping, invite community pride, and give young people a visible role in shaping the environment around them. As this partnership develops, we are excited about the possibility of combining environmental stewardship, reused materials, and youth-led creativity into a lasting addition to the Groundwork Indy site.

Follow along on social media as this project continues to take shape, and help us celebrate the young people using creativity to care for their community.

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Green Team: Youth in Action on the Trails and Gardens

This summer, Groundwork Indy’s Green Team has been hard at work caring for and revitalizing the native trails and gardens at our site. The team includes 26 high school students, ages 14–18, who are dedicating their summer to improving community green spaces while building important workforce development skills they can carry into future jobs.

Through hands-on service and sustainability projects, Green Team members are learning what it means to show up ready to work, communicate clearly, follow directions, work safely, problem-solve as a team, and take pride in completing real projects that benefit the community. Along the way, they are developing professionalism, leadership, accountability, teamwork, and environmental stewardship.

Their efforts are helping strengthen the beauty, accessibility, and ecological health of Groundwork Indy’s trails and gardens while preparing young people for their next steps in school, employment, and community leadership.

You can support Green Team by sharing our updates, volunteering at an upcoming opportunity, or making a gift that helps provide paid youth employment and hands-on learning experiences.

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GroundCorp Plus: First Cohort Graduates

Groundwork Indy is proud to celebrate the completion of our first GroundCorp Plus cohort. Over 12 weeks, participants grew in their technical carpentry skills, confidence, professionalism, and ability to work together as a team, earning OSHA and project management certifications.

Congratulations to our graduates on completing the program and taking an exciting next step in their career journeys. A major milestone from this first cohort is that all four graduates have been accepted into the Carpenters Union.

As they prepare for their union start dates, Groundwork Indy will continue working with them weekly to reinforce job skills, workplace expectations, and a smooth transition into apprenticeship opportunities. With more than 200 applications received for the next cohort starting July 14th, GroundCorp Plus is already building momentum as a powerful workforce development pathway for young adults.

Your support helps make programs like GroundCorp Plus possible by connecting young adults to training, career exposure, mentorship, and real pathways into skilled trades.

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Keep Growing With Us

The work happening this summer is possible because people choose to show up for young people, for green spaces, and for a healthier Indianapolis.

Every volunteer hour, shared post, donation, partnership, and word of encouragement helps move this mission forward.

As the season continues, we invite you to stay connected and take one next step with Groundwork Indy.

You can Volunteer at an upcoming event, make a gift to support youth employment and workforce development, follow us and share our work on social media, or invite someone in your network to learn more about what is happening at the Groundwork Indy education campus.

However you choose to connect, thank you for being part of this growing community. We are grateful to have you with us.

With gratitude,

Amanda Schutte

Advancement Director, Groundwork Indy Inc

Several youth work in the native plant area.