Indianapolis Metropolitan High School is a best-fit school for students experiencing circumstances that may present a barrier to education, including teen pregnancy or parenting, homelessness, involvement with the foster care or criminal justice system and more. The school places an emphasis on ensuring students enroll in college or enter into a career that offers a higher wage post-graduation.

When Jesse Hendrickson first walked into Goodwill for his court-ordered community service in 2016, he was homeless and recovering from a decade-long drug addiction that had isolated him from his family. 

Launched in 2011, Goodwill’s Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program pairs first-time, low-income moms with a registered nurse who makes home visits through pregnancy and up until a child’s second birthday. In February 2020, we celebrated 3,000 babies born as part of the program, along with families like the Deahls, whose lives were changed significantly after the arrival of their son, Allistor.

Life looked much different for Kimberly Lewis eight years ago.

Established in 2017, National Hire a Veteran Day (celebrated on July 25) was founded by Hire Our Heroes, a nonprofit organization that connects veterans with employers. Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana recognizes the value that veterans bring to the table in terms of leadership, discipline, endurance, grit and so much more. We employ more than 100 veterans in a variety of roles, including retail associates, teachers, support professionals and more.

As Daesha Cottrell nears the end of her senior year at Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, she is raising the bar for students who follow in her footsteps, exemplifying leadership, while preparing for college and beyond.

Angel Beyersdorfer struggled with drug addiction for a decade before she finally hit rock bottom. She lost her home, car and driver’s license and couldn’t hold down a job.

As a small city in rural, southern Indiana (population <7,000), Scottsburg has the same challenges larger cities have but fewer resources available to address them. Of the 12% of Scottsburg residents who didn’t graduate from high school, an astonishing 44% over the age of 25 live below poverty level. Other common barriers include criminal history, addiction and homelessness.

Greg Perry beamed with pride as he stood at the podium at his graduation from Goodwill’s New Beginnings program, recounting the experiences that led him to prison as well as those that changed his life. New Beginnings is a six-month, re-entry program that helps those who were recently incarcerated adjust to society after their release.

India Daye was a senior in high school when she first learned she was pregnant. She lacked stable housing and worked part-time at a fast-food restaurant through her pregnancy to help support her family.