The latinas welding guild is one of the best organizations to go to develop your skills and a great…read moreportal to bigger opportunities. My experience here has been nothing less than amazing. The instructors Josh, and Phil, as well as the TA Jomar, are incredible people and are very passionate about what they're doing. They will make sure that you are getting the best education and that you are set to succeed! The staff is dedicated to your growth and success and will go the extra mile to help you explore opportunities and land a job to put your skills to use. Everyone here is extremely helpful, extremely nice and eager to help you achieve your goals. If you're someone who's motivated and eager to work and excel, you will get what you put in. perhaps some people expect to have their hand held through the whole process and be spoon fed a Job on a silver platter, and that's not how anything works in life. you have you want it and you have to put your part in to make sure you succeed as well. Dwayne is an invaluable resource who will help you with your resume and help you land an interview, or look for potential opportunities, who he then will reach out to, but you have to be willing to put in the work too! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to grow and level up their skills. I think what they're doing for the community, and for the culture is awesome and I hope more people take advantage of such an amazing opportunity. Love you guys, thanks!

This place is a scam!!!!! They claim to help people but only…read moredo enough to get grant money and then screw over everyone who goes through the program. Their curriculum is BS for anyone who has actually worked in the industry. The students are only learning 1 basic joint simply to get a certification that they barely really use once they go looking for jobs. The students leave with 0 support to find jobs and pretty much have a useless certification. Everyone is getting very basic certs and hardly any students can actually find jobs. Their entire mission statement is built on ethics, but they don't actually have any!!!! Not only is she a scam to the people in the program she fired an employee while undergoing CANCER treatment!! The founder, Consuelo Lockhart, DOES NOT care about anything except money in her pocket. You can reach out to any company theyve worked with (R.A.D. fabricaction, Wilhelm, Poynter,.. etc) and I guarantee each one will say the same thing. She burns bridges with everyone she comes across. Think twice about using them for ANYTHING. They can't finish a single project without it looking like shit. And if you're considering giving them grant money just KNOW your money is not going to a good place.

IndyHub is one of the most valuable resources for active professionals in Indianapolis. It serves…read moreas an advocate for Indy's future leaders, and a diverse and engaged community is the strength of Indy's today and tomorrow. From civic involvement to neighborhoods to arts and culture, IndyHub's programming is designed to help residents become more engaged with what is happening in the city. The variety of events allow attendees to find their niche to become more informed citizens. The programs also provide immersive experiences to help us become active participants in shaping our city. Here is just a snapshot of what IndyHub has to offer: IndyVolved - Featuring over 100 civic and non-profit organizations who are seeking new involvement and advocates for their groups. Hello Neighbor - Bike or Walking tours in various parts of the city. A chance to visit different neighborhoods and interact with the locals. Think and Drink - An Indy-centric trivia night where you walk away learning something new about different aspects of the city. Passport to the Arts - Sampler program to visit different arts organizations. Chance to see a show or get a behind-the-scenes tour. Corporate Collective - A good way to connect with the local workforce and figure out how we can work together to move the city forward. Five to Seven - A new happy hour for a cause series and a great networking opportunity. I would feel a bit lost without the guidance of IndyHub! I recommend going to an event or making a donation to the IndyHub Foundation. Not only are you making an investment to their great work, but you are also making an investment in the people and the city. #GivingTuesday #PeopleMakeTheCity indyhub.org/donate

Man, I love IndyHub! They bring together all of the incredible nonprofits and organizations in our…read morecity to make everyone stronger, together. Their efforts are focused towards bringing 20 and 30-somethings into the fold of this city, with a goal to have everyone involved and connected to meaningful groups. One of my favorite events they throw every year is called IndyVolved. Hundreds of city-wide organizations come to Central Library and you can wander around and learn about different groups you may want to meet. I love encountering so many cool people and interesting groups at this event every year! IndyHub also has a 'neighorhood' series that I can't wait to check out. They'll choose a neighborhood and allow a group to go behind the scenes at cool bizs in that area. So rad!

I'm a 14 year member, so obviously I'm highly biased, but this is one of the best women's…read moreorganizations you can join in the City of Indianapolis to meet exceptional women, develop leadership skills and give back to your community in a big way. New members are welcome each each.

I have been a Big Sister for three years now and love spending time with my little! The…read moreorganization does a great job of matching you and your little. The process to become a little takes some time but it is worth it and I appreciate that they are so thorough. The organization often has free tickets for events for us to enjoy or partnerships with museums and places throughout the city. The best part is impacting your little and seeing them grow up and become their own person- I plan on being a big until my little graduates and hopefully will still stay connected after her graduation! If you have the time and passion, this is a great place to volunteer!! My advice is to be yourself and be open to new experiences.

One of my favorite Indy non-profits! Rooted in their desire to ignite potential in the youth of…read morecentral Indiana, BBBS is a phenomenal organization that matches bigs and littles together to create a positive relationship for all involved. I've been a Big for four years now and absolutely love it. My little and I enjoy doing things together like riding bikes on the canal, playing at the YMCA, and going to game nights hosted by BBBSCI - all for free thanks to BBBS and their partnerships. If you're thinking of becoming a Big - reach out and ask me anything! I love everything about it and can't rave about it enough!

I thought given recent current events, milestones and the current state of things, I would provide…read morean update since my last review three months ago. As much as I'd like to say things have improved, they unfortunately have not. So let's start. Seven years ago this month, on a warm May in 2015, I left California to take a train to New York City. By the time four months passed, I had raised several thousands of dollars toward the Eliminate Tetanus Project. The funds raised potentially saved thousands of lives. One would think that now that we have the COVID pandemic going on in our own front yard and the fundraising phase on tetanus already concluded, not only would Kiwanis, who has saved countless of lives and prevented negative health outcomes from its efforts on tetanus would be moved into action, but would also work with national government like it did in the 1980s with Nancy Reagan's Say No to Drugs campaign. Not so, even though I'm still working with several national organizations throughout the U.S. with government ties working hard to address the ongoing COVID pandemic wanting to collaborate with Kiwanis on those efforts. With vaccines now being recently approved for younger children, and boosters also being made available, one would think Kiwanis would be involved in those efforts. That's still not the case. Almost two years ago now, our Kiwanis Executive Director Stan Soderstrom issued a statement on the unrest that resulted from the tragedy in the wake of the unjust police brutality that occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota https://www.kiwanis.org/news/newsitem/news/newsitem/soderstrom-we-will-not-tolerate-racism . In it, the statement mentioned the oft heard slogan "Black Lives Matter", which has been echoing almost as long as we've been dealing with this pandemic. However, one has to wonder if that's what the organization thinks, given that a recent reports show that so many lives could have been potentially saved. One year after getting the letter from the White House on its national efforts to vaccinate as many eligible citizens, I would not have imagined that just one year later, we would be marking a million COVID-19 casualties https://abcnews.go.com/Health/unthinkable-tragedy-us-covid-19-death-toll-surpasses/story?id=84502918 . But here we are. Despite Kiwanis, along with other service organizations working together to issue a joint statement early on, nothing has been done since- especially when vaccines first became available later in the same year http://digital.lionmagazine.org/publication/?i=668715&article_id=3732034&view=articleBrowser&ver=html5 . One has to wonder just "whose life matters?" Kiwanis says "Black Lives Matter", then in a statement on COVID, Kiwanis also states, as mentioned by then President Daniel Vigneron that "We all play a role in keeping our friends and neighbors safe". But has Kiwanis really done that? What about other organization peers? Just who do service clubs serve? Whose life matters if it's not even making efforts to try to save lives of fellow Americans? Just like people we've tried to help around the world, this pandemic has disproportionately impacted people of color here in the U.S. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/expert-answers/coronavirus-infection-by-race/faq-20488802 . To clarify, this isn't about your average member going out and giving vaccines to people, but being trusted messengers, voices, in their communities. Very few of us are doing this. But this isn't a small group effort, or even a bunch of organizations effort- it's an all-hands-on-deck effort. What's disappointing is that groups like Kiwanis and Rotary should be on the forefront of these efforts with their experience on issues like tetanus and polio, respectively. However, that is not the case. Trusted messaging is still in need of this time, and many lives could have probably been saved if service groups like Kiwanis had been involved since even last year https://abcnews.go.com/Health/300000-us-covid-deaths-averted-vaccination-analysis-finds/story?id=84753284 This isn't just a critique only of Kiwanis- this goes for all service organizations- especially those on the joint statement. Why come out with a statement at all if they're not going to put more effort into saving even fellow American lives, where most of our membership lies? It's sad to think that one year after my outreach, more than two years into a global pandemic, cases of COVID increasing again, and our organizations having their conventions again this year, there is still no collaboration with COVID organizations or national government. Do service organizations work to serve others, or only themselves when the situation suits them? One has to wonder what the purpose of service organizations are if they only seem interested in helping those far away when they could also be doing something to help people here too. Skip joining service organizations- get vaccinated if you're eligible instead.

Kiwanis International is a service organization made up of volunteers who work together to improve…read morethe world one child and one community at a time. This building houses the head office for the organization, and is where the North American region of the organization is managed along with where many of the resources offered to the International board and the rest of the organization are managed. The space itself is versatile and includes the staff who support this organization of volunteers. The building is on a great plot of land and includes some awesome art, has a wonderful auditorium, and includes much history among other things. Staff here are really friendly as are the members of this organization. Tours can be arranged here for members of the organization. Likewise there is a Kiwanis store on site where one can purchase Kiwanis branded merchandise. The Service Leadership Programs for this organization are also served by the staff here and that includes Key Club International, Builder's Club, Circle K International, Aktion Club, and K-Kids. There is ample parking.

I first became familiar with Legacy House when I decided to do a Tenderness Tour event in memory of…read moreIndy's victims of violence and began exploring possible community partners for which I could raise funds. I had a friend who'd received counseling from Legacy House and began exploring their services and realized they were very much in line with my own philosophies. I contacted the Executive Director at the time, Michael Hurst, and we agreed that any funds I raised from that event would go to Legacy House. I was incredibly touched that Michael ended up coming out for my event on a very cold, snowy day and it began a friendship that continues to this day. While he has since left the organization, I continue to support and be appreciative of their work. Legacy House serves the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of adults and children affected by violence. They offer intervention, support, education, and understanding. Perhaps best of all, their services are provided at no charge. Shari Bradley has since become the Executive Director. They offer counseling and support services including individual/group therapies, support groups, sandplay, dog therapy, energy therapies, expressive arts, and a program called the BOOST program in the area of domestic violence. They have offices on the lower level of the North Arlington Community Health Center at 25th and Arlington. They receive much of their funding from the Health and Hospital Corporation, though they are a non-profit organization and also receive donations, grants, and hold special events each year. They observe National Crime Victims' Rights Week and staff can often be found at various events throughout the year during months offering education/awareness around violence. I participated multiple years in the Rocc-A-Thon on Monument Circle. Legacy House continues to be one of my favorite organizations in Indy, a real unsung hero that provides direct supports to survivors of violence and I continue to be in awe of the fact that they do so at no charge.

Harm not Help:…read more Retraumatizing, Irresponsible, Unethical. After my daughter's experience at this agency she said, "Mom, no one cares." Not only were we reintroduced to the trauma but fear of abandonment was re-enforced. We were so vulnerable, we trusted them with the most personal details and we were dismissed like we were nothing which made us feel unimportant. The first meeting with Kareema, she cancelled within the hour of our appointment. The secretary told me that Kareema was at lunch when we arrived. I discovered that she left a phone message when I was in the waiting room. I live on the southside, had just picked up my daughter from the northside, to go to the eastside for the appoinment. The secretary told me, "things happen." Then next, appointment, I told the secretary that I had to take a phone call from the police involving the trauma. They wouldn't see her until my phone call was over. The counselor thought that I had just walked-out. My daughter was excited to work with Kareema, they had a nice repoire. We made the next appointment in her office. Walking to my car in the parking lot, Kareema called and told me that she might need to reschedule, she didnt know and that I needed to call the next day to find out. All of this was very difficult, confusing, like I had to jump through hoops to get my daughter some help. I called and left a message with the secretary who had cancelled this appointment. I told her that my daughter is in crisis and needs to see Kareema ASAP. No one responded. Nothing was taken seriously, its just a game. The only time available was three weeks out. Just like my daughter said, "No one cares." I felt like I was in Wizard of Oz, or Alice in Wonderland. This place reinforced the trauma and sense of desperation. Very sad and devastating.

If you've ever read The Polk Street Review, then you've entered the world of the all-volunteer…read morenon-profit organization Community Education Arts, a 501c3 organization based in Noblesville. The Polk Street Review Project was really my introduction to the organization. It's an annual creative placemaking arts project that includes workshops, a podcast/short videos series, and the annual book. Each year, the book has a theme - for 2025, it's "Behind the Veil." Some will remember the organization as Logan Street Sanctuary, though the Logan Street property that formerly served as its home was sold to Noblesville Preservation Alliance in 2019. The mission of the organization is to promote greater awareness and encouragement for Creative Arts in Hamilton County and beyond. The organization provides projects, events, educational workshops, and other opportunities for creative spirits from Hamilton County and beyond. The organization's simple yet effective website contains a remarkable history of its events and is a powerful reminder of the impact that a small non-profit organization can have on promoting the arts in a community. There's much to love about Community Education Arts - from its volunteers to its community-based projects to the wonderful The Polk Street Review. If you're in the Noblesville area, especially, I'd no doubt take the time to check them out and get engaged with them.

This is an excellent facility. I came here to purchase some items from the Girl Scout store and…read moreended up taking a tour. The facility is updated and very clean. In addition to the store, which carries all your girl scout needs, they have meeting rooms, a game room, administrative offices and a lounge. They also have a very nice patio area out front and a decent sized parking lot. The store has all your Girl Scout needs from official uniform clothing, to badges, to patches, and some toys. I was greeted immediately when I came in. I told them what I was looking for and the woman working got all the pieces of the uniform together for me. They made it very easy. They all were very helpful and knowledgeable about the program. I really like this facility and hope that my daughter's troop will be able to incorporate this place into their program and maybe even go camping or earn some badges here. This place is well planned out and put together. Every scout should have the opportunity to go there at some point.

I came to Indiana excited to volunteer at this organization after years of working with another…read morechapter out of state. My initial email was met with confusion. I finally met with a director whom seemed uninterested in working with me. I continue to help out as I could. The chapter as a whole was not innovative or creative. They seemed happy to continue doing the same activities year after year. They actually hosted a cookie and beer event one year. I thought it was a good addition, but tons of people complained. It was beyond strange. People here say they want to do more, but back off when met with resistance. After two years of trying to help, I finally gave up and took my money elsewhere. This chapter is extremely unwelcoming to outsiders. The prefer volunteers with Indiana roots or children in the chapter. I had neither. Also, this place is located across the street from the Women's Correctional Facility. It seems like an odd location for a children's camp.