Northeast Regional Forum | Career Training

Join the conversation on rethinking collaboration to create positive change.

Get a fascinating glimpse into the creation of the Whitko Career Academy—a response to skilled labor shortages and increased recidivism rates—that is breathing new life into Whitley and Kosciusko counties. The academy helps students identify career pathways as early as eighth grade while leveraging instructors and mentors embedded in the local workforce. It also offers training for adults and support services as inmates transition back into the community.

At this event, you’ll learn how numerous community partners—local funders, elected officials, correction heads, judges, service providers, educators, employers, and healthcare professionals—worked free of egos or agendas for the betterment of residents. All of your questions will be answered during a guided tour of this remarkable complex, as well as from speakers representing philanthropy, industry, government, and social service providers.

IPA Regional Forums

This event is part of the 2023 IPA Regional Forums, which feature five interactive case studies of exceptional cross-sector partnerships across Indiana. Join project collaborators as they share inspiring stories of forming partnerships, leveraging assets, and achieving impressive results. Each forum offers a unique perspective on collaboration, with opportunities to tour facilities and interact with program staff. All five events highlight diverse groups across Indiana who work free from silos toward a targeted solution in placemaking and quality of life: arts and culture, preserving natural resources, career training, entrepreneurism, and mental health and recovery. 

Don't limit yourself to only your local Regional Forum. We encourage you to participate in all events that align with your interests, whether related to a particular program, partner-model, or region. Select an event below to learn more.

• Southwest Region, June 5 | Mental Health & Recovery
• Northeast Region, June 21 | Career Training
• Northwest Region, June 22 | Small Business & Entrepreneurship
• Southeast Region, June 27 | Arts & Culture
• Central Region, June 29 | Natural Resources

Who Will Benefit

• All people working either for or with philanthropy to address local challenges through cross-sector collaboration.

What to Expect

• Experiential learning! At most locations, you will tour the project to experience the work in its context.
• IPA members and their partners discuss the journey to bring their vision to life, including challenges, strategies, successes, failures, and aspirations. 
• You will be guided through a design-thinking exercise to ideate possible partners and solutions in your own context. 
• You’ll network with funders engaged in solving similar challenges through partnership.

Key Takeaways

• Plan developed by you to bolster new or existing collaborative efforts.
• Playbook of guiding documents for sustained and successful partnerships, such as project plans, proposals, communications plans, budgets, MOUs, data sets, and reflections.
• New insights on collaboration to enhance your own efforts.