Upskilling & Reskilling English Language Learners

Low literacy leads to poor workforce readiness, continued cycles of low intergenerational literacy, lower social integration, and a higher likelihood of poverty. Individuals from marginalized groups are disproportionately represented in the lowest literacy levels. Adult learners often juggle multiple life responsibilities, leaving them with limited time for education and occasionally causing irregular attendance. As a result, complications in instruction often arise, and innovative approaches are needed. Research by Beder and Medina (2001) notes the challenges posed by catering to a diverse range of skill levels are significant issues within adult education and workforce training. Our challenge is offering contextualized adult literacy education focused on in-demand occupations within high-demand industry sectors (Clean Energy, Construction, and Manufacturing).  Employers have engaged us to support the design and piloting of a contextualized literacy program that enables and accelerates the attainment of credentials and certifications required for advancement within our target industries.

Indy Reads will collaborate with an employer partner, Electric Plus (EP) to create and deliver an English (ELL) class for team members who are non-native English speakers, learning the language while developing skills to perform their preapprenticeship work effectively to fulfill their potential at work and beyond.  The class will meet two times weekly in person for 4 hours/week and incorporate a minimum of 3 additional asynchronous practice hours over 12 weeks for a total of 84+ instructional hours.  The class will be designed to engage up to 30 team members, whose skills, self-identified needs, and goals, along with the needs supervisors and leadership define, will contribute to the formation of the curriculum.  Participants will receive individualized coaching weekly to design personal goals, encourage their engagement,  identify successes, and mitigate barriers. IR will design strategies for supervisors to support their team member's participation in the class and offer to coach them as needed for the team.  This pilot will further inform the future development of Indy Reads’ work to bring this concept and model to scale for job seekers and incumbent workers alike.

Indy Reads targets adult learners of all backgrounds and skill levels to participate in our Community Classrooms and workforce development programs. Demographically, 76% of our students are people of color, 67% are immigrants or refugees, 71% live at or below 200% of the federal poverty line or identify as low-income, and 50% have children under 18. Most of our students rely on social services to support themselves or their families, and all face multiple layers of marginalization. On top of the invisibility of low literacy, some of our students are returning citizens participating in reentry programs. 

Among our employed students, the majority have jobs that do not pay a living wage, have sporadic work schedules, and place the earner's income at a level within the federal poverty guidelines for their family size. 

This pilot will test our model of contextualized literacy with an enlightened employer who is supporting our training after hours. Workers will receive meals and a comfortable and secure location as they learn English to advance their careers twice a week with self-paced learning opportunities.  Our holistic approach will address the needs of people of myriad life stories and linguistic, cultural, racial, economic, and educational backgrounds.

Indy Reads, a non-profit organization established in 1984, is dedicated to advancing adult literacy. It offers tailored curricula for native English speakers and English language learners, high school equivalency diplomas, and workforce credentials. Indy Reads highlights the importance of considering the learners' diverse backgrounds and experiences and aims to provide culturally responsive and sustaining curricula and materials, creating a welcoming and safe space for learners. Our mission is to build literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and families to reach their full potential. Our vision is 100% literacy for all. We offer a range of programs and services designed to meet the diverse needs of diverse adult learners. We aim to cultivate our learners’ sense of empowerment, confidence, and belonging. Our staff members reflect our community and the students we serve. Ninety-two percent are female, 50% are racial or ethnic minorities, 25% identify as LBGTQ, 16% have a disability, and 42% are themselves or a family member immigrants and/or have English as a second language. 

What truly makes Indy Reads unique is its deep integration within the local community. Through collaborations with various organizations, businesses, and volunteers, we cultivate a supportive ecosystem that amplifies the impact of our initiatives and fosters shared responsibility for addressing adult literacy challenges. 

In this pilot, we will be guided by an advisory board consisting of students graduating from our programs who want to enter the skilled trades workforce, incumbent workers, employers, educators, labor organizations, workforce development organizations, and community-based partners. Their input will be critical for designing the program to address both technical and interpersonal skills as well as wrap-around support services needed for participants to be successful. 

In 2024, several employers (construction, electrical, and manufacturing companies) reached out to engage Indy Reads to support their current and future workforce with adult literacy education.  At the same time, many community center partners shared their concerns about an ongoing trend that clients participating in workforce training were not able to pass the certifying exams due to English language barriers. The low-literacy individuals seeking a job or already employed are not able to move forward without educational remediation and support services. 

Our initial conversations with employers, such as Electric Plus, indicated that there are several workers and candidates with potential for upward mobility in their companies, but they must improve their communication skills and be able to pass their apprenticeship exams to be promoted within the company. The exams are in English and many workers cannot pass them due to language barriers. Working with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and Electric Plus, Indy Reads is assessing the literacy levels of 28 employees who will participate in a 12-week course to learn English in the context of construction careers. The content and delivery of the pilot program will be informed by industry workers, educators, labor, and front-line managers.

Indy Reads' solution is innovative because it integrates contextualized literacy with workforce training tailored to high-demand industries like clean energy, construction, and manufacturing. It addresses significant barriers faced by non-native English speakers, such as passing certification exams and advancing in their careers. Unlike traditional ESL programs, this approach combines job-specific language skills with technical knowledge, ensuring that learning is directly applicable to workplace needs. By partnering with employers like Electric Plus, the program aligns with workplace requirements, enabling participants to gain the skills needed to succeed and advance professionally.

The solution also includes holistic support, such as individualized coaching, supervisor training, meals, and a supportive learning environment, to remove barriers that often hinder adult learners from engaging in traditional education. Workers and employers are involved in co-developing the curriculum, making it relevant, engaging, and tailored to participant needs.

This program has the potential for broader impact by serving as a scalable model for workforce literacy. Insights from the pilot will inform a replicable framework that can benefit job seekers and incumbent workers across various industries. By addressing systemic literacy barriers, the program positions adult education as a critical workforce development tool. Additionally, its collaborative approach, uniting nonprofits, employers, and labor organizations, sets a precedent for tackling workforce and literacy challenges collectively. This solution redefines workforce literacy by empowering marginalized workers and driving systemic change

By creating a scalable model, Indy Reads aims to expand this program beyond the pilot to serve a larger population, catalyzing systemic change in workforce literacy. Progress is regularly assessed through data collection and analysis, informed by input from students, educators, and employer partners.

Language Proficiency Gains: Using state-approved literacy assessments, the program measures improvements in participants' English language skills, focusing on their ability to pass apprenticeship and certification exams.Employment Outcomes: Metrics include job placement rates, promotions within existing roles, and wage increases among program participants.Retention and Engagement: Tracking attendance, participation in both in-person and asynchronous learning, and completion rates of the 12-week course.Participant Feedback: Surveys and coaching sessions capture qualitative insights about learners’ confidence, goal achievement, and barriers they face.Employer Impact: Collaborating with companies like Electric Plus, the program monitors workplace outcomes, including employee retention and supervisor feedback on team member performance.

Full Time: 2

Part Time: 5

Since 1984, Indy Reads has been a leader in adult literacy education in Indianapolis, offering a holistic and inclusive approach to overcome systemic barriers. Unlike other programs, we support learners at all levels, including beginners, ensuring no one is left behind. As the only state-certified provider in central Indiana, our student-centered programs focus on individual goals without imposing time limits. With a 1-to-5 student-to-faculty ratio, we provide personalized, patient, and persistent support. Our students consistently share that Indy Reads is the first place they feel “seen” and empowered to achieve their full potential.

Indy Reads affirms the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in fostering a stronger Central Indiana community. The organization defines diversity broadly, encompassing race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, socio-economic status, and more, recognizing diversity as a source of insight, growth, and responsiveness. Equity is emphasized as the allocation of resources to address systemic barriers, while inclusion focuses on amplifying marginalized voices.

Indy Reads commits to recruiting diverse staff and board members, rejecting prejudice, and actively promoting DEI in its programming. The organization collaborates with groups led by or focused on historically marginalized communities and ensures that its messaging and advocacy reflect these values. Indy Reads also recruits diverse volunteers and continuously assesses its DEI progress, striving for transparency and improvement. Approved by the Board of Directors in 2020, this plan underscores Indy Reads' dedication to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

Indy Reads' business model combines impactful education services with sustainable revenue generation, delivering value to its beneficiaries and the broader community.

Value to Beneficiaries:

Indy Reads provides personalized literacy education for adult learners at all levels, from foundational skills to advanced English language learning. Programs prioritize a holistic approach, small teacher-student ratios, and meeting students where they are in their educational journey. This enables learners to make significant educational gains, earn high school equivalency diplomas, and achieve certifications, advancing economic mobility, health literacy, and civic engagement. Indy Reads also uses a two-generation model to support parents and children who are English language learners, while partnering with community organizations to address systemic inequities and foster diversity.

Revenue Generation:

Indy Reads operates a community bookstore that contributes 18% of its gross income by selling used and new books, gift cards, and merchandise. This revenue supports free literacy programs for learners and their families. The bookstore’s inclusive and welcoming environment has inspired a $50,000 annual grant for general operations, opportunities for additional restricted funding, and at least one $5,000 corporate donation yearly.

This hybrid model ensures Indy Reads remains impactful and sustainable, enabling the organization to address systemic literacy gaps while fostering economic and social empowerment in the community.

Indy Reads has developed a multi-faceted revenue model to achieve financial sustainability while advancing its mission. Its community bookstore generates 18% of the organization’s gross income, selling predominantly used books alongside a curated selection of new titles and merchandise. The bookstore’s success has garnered strong community support, attracting $50,000 annually in general operating grants, with up to $100,000 available for specific projects. Corporate sponsorships further bolster revenue, including a recurring $5,000 annual donation from local businesses that value the bookstore’s impact.

The bookstore also supports Indy Reads’ literacy and workforce development programs, such as customer service certifications, which empower underserved populations while contributing additional revenue. Community engagement initiatives, including free and pay-what-you-can book options, Little Free Libraries, and cultural programming, enhance the organization’s reach and reputation, fostering a loyal donor base and repeat customers.

In FY22-23, the bookstore and its programming generated $260,377 in revenue, with $125,262 net profit after expenses. The organization’s total gross revenue for FY22-23 was $1,408,853. These financial achievements are complemented by measurable community impact: 79% of post-tested students showed educational gains, and 100% of certification exam takers earned credentials. Positive Yelp and Google reviews reflect the bookstore’s role as a beloved community institution, further driving financial and mission-oriented success. Through these diversified and sustainable strategies, Indy Reads ensures long-term viability while making a significant difference in central Indiana.

Working with the Truist Foundation and MIT Solve will bring critical support to our entire organization as we develop this solution.  Needs assessment, planning, scaling, and access to peers who are also working to develop solutions in this space will elevate our work and help us refine our program more quickly and efficiently. Indy Reads is a small but mighty nonprofit that would benefit greatly from access to a variety of capacity-building resources, including consultants, subject matter experts, resources, and workshops we will have the chance to receive insights on industry best practices and the opportunity to receive no-cost program support that will help reinforce and maintain the success and sustainability of our contextualized literacy training. We are very collaborative and look forward to sharing our learnings with other employers and community-based partners.