LISC Indianapolis Hosts 2nd Annual Building Bridges Awards, Celebrates Leaders within the Workforce Development Ecosystem

On Wednesday April 17, 2024, LISC Indianapolis celebrated the outstanding contributions, initiative and leadership in the Bridges to Career Opportunities, or Bridges, Network at the 2nd Annual Building Bridges Awards. More than 150 partners and coaches gathered at the Biltwell Events Center. Each individual award winner received a trophy and a $3,000 professional development grant. The Team Impact winner received a trophy and a $500 grant for a team celebration. The Building Bridges Awards is a local staple championing how exemplary coaching and education can make a real difference across Indianapolis communities.

Here are the 2024 Building Bridges Award winners:

Rockstar Rookie:

This award recognizes a Bridges Network staff member hired within the last 12 months who hit the ground running and brought significant impact to their team in a short amount of time.

The nominator for this year’s winner said, “This individual has transformed our team with innovative coaching strategies, effective communication, and a supportive environment. He is constantly seeking growth and setting a remarkable example for aspiring coaches. What sets this individual apart is an unwavering dedication to empowering young people who may feel marginalized or overlooked. The unique blend of life experiences, humor, relatability, and passion shines brightly and is a great match with the youth workforce demographic. The impact extends far beyond the programs implemented; it's evident in the transformational relationships built and the confidence instilled in the youth he serves.”

Please join LISC in congratulating the 2024 Rookie Rockstar and recipient of a $3000 professional development grant, Darryl Davis with Edna Martin Christian Center.

Coaching Champion:

This category recognizes an outstanding Bridges coach that has demonstrated tremendous initiative and desire to go above and beyond in serving their clients.

The nominator for this year’s winner said, “This individual uses positive coaching techniques to help the neighbors she works with and empower them to make sustainable changes in their lives. She is the face of the organization, making an effort to engage with all who enter our doors. She is incredibly resourceful and has a wide network of community contacts who frequently provide essential donations. If she can’t find it from connections, you’ll find her scouring the stores to ensure we meet the needs of our neighbors. As an income support coach, she is well versed in numerous programs and skillfully helps our neighbors understand each one and what will work best for them. She has a natural ability to connect with people, understanding their needs and exceeding expectations.”

Please join LISC in congratulating the 2024 Coaching Champion and recipient of a $3,000 professional development scholarship, Dawn Wagner with Southeast Community Services.

Quality Career Navigation Community Award:

The Quality Career Navigation Community Award recognizes a Career Navigator who is committed to delivering relationship-based coaching to connect their clients to quality training, work experiences, and job opportunities. Nominations for this award were open to all Indianapolis Career Navigators and are not limited to the Bridges Network.

The nominator for this year’s winner said, “What sets this individual apart is the quiet diligence with which they work to help clients recognize their inherent value as human beings and to align processes and systems in ways that create opportunities for clients to flourish in work, in life, and most importantly, in feeling a sense of self-worth. This individual’s lived experience and commitment to social justice and systems evolution, makes them a perfect leader and mentor for clients. As a former client, now coach, they make sure every single young person with whom they work with has a plan they put into place that supports their long-term stability.”

Please join LISC in congratulating the 2024 Quality Career Navigation Community Award winner and recipient of a $3,000 professional development scholarship, James Conway with Keys2Work. 

Spotlight Leader:

This category recognizes a Bridges network leadership staff member who demonstrates exceptional guidance, direction, decision-making, and commitment to the Bridges work.

The nominator for this year’s winner said, “This individual’s leadership style is characterized by inclusivity and transparency, and fostering a collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best. She listens attentively to diverse perspectives, weighs options thoughtfully, and leads with conviction. In the face of uncertainty, her decisive actions have brought clarity and direction to the organization. Her strategic insight and ability to make tough decisions have been instrumental in overcoming obstacles and achieving our goals. Not only does she exemplify how to carry oneself as a leader, but she leads by example, often participating in tasks alongside her team.”

Please join LISC in congratulating the 2024 Spotlight Leader and recipient of a $3,000 professional development scholarship, Brittany Keno with Edna Martin Christian Center.

Team Impact:

This category recognizes a Bridges site that has most embodied the values of excellence, service, and commitment to helping clients progress toward economic self-sufficiency. An organization that has met or exceeded their annual performance goals and demonstrated great promise heading into this year.

The winner of this year’s award has worked for decades to bridge the racial and economic differences in their community by leading a variety of initiatives that empower residents and encourage a vision of hope. Each team member goes above and beyond their roles when working with families and individuals who want to make a positive turn in their lives. Team members work to form genuine relationships with clients and take time to celebrate the successes. This team understands that motivation can make a big impact on whether or not a client is a success story. Therefore, creating those bridges to meet clients where they are, has resulted in great impact. These characteristics help create a culture of excellence, service and commitment.

Please join me in congratulating the 2024 Building Bridges Team Impact Award winner – Flanner House.