Phalen Leadership Academies and Glick Fund, a fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation, are joining forces to provide college and career readiness for teens and families on Indy’s Far Eastside.

PLA has been awarded a $125K grant from Glick Fund to build a college and career readiness program aiding scholars in one of the city’s most underserved communities. The program will serve current PLA scholars at James and Rosemary Phalen Leadership Academy (JRPLA) grades 7-10 and extend as the school grows to 7-12.

“Our scholars are really working to fight against the odds on the Far Eastside, and we are going to help them win,” said PLA Founder & CEO, Earl Martin Phalen.  “Just in the news this week, two of our scholars were shot in the middle of the day standing outside of their homes. It is essential that our children view education as a pathway to a better future, and that our community is able to provide our children not only with the high-quality K-12 education they deserve, but also with the motivation and skills necessary to succeed. Simply, to change the future for our children, we have to help students continue their education past high school and give them the tools to succeed in college and the workplace.”

In addition to offering the only A-rated middle/high school on Indy’s Far Eastside, PLA has a vision to ensure that scholars are ready for life beyond JRPLA. The program is two-fold. One path supports scholars with college readiness offering support with ACT testing, college visits, college applications and applying for scholarships. It also connects scholars with mentors to help them get through college. The career path option supports scholars who want to go directly into the workforce. The workforce component is open to scholars and a family member to create higher earning potential for whole families. This component of the program will connect scholars with local Indy companies to get hands-on training, real-world experience, and an open door to future careers.

Where possible, PLA plans to open college and career workshops to the public, so that all families on the Far Eastside have the opportunity to benefit from Glick Fund’s support. The program will launch in 2020.

To learn more, or to become a career and college partner email nfama@phalenacademies.org or visit PhalenAcademies.org.

About the Glick Fund at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF):

The Glick Fund at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) was established by Eugene and Marilyn Glick in 1998 to support a variety of philanthropic organizations and programs in central Indiana, particularly those benefiting the arts, cultural and civic causes, education, self-sufficiency and basic needs. The Glick Fund at CICF also supports initiatives aimed at elevating the quality of life in central Indiana, including through its $18 million gift to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, an asset connecting core neighborhoods of Indianapolis and driving urban economic development. The Glick Fund at CICF is a part of Glick Philanthropies, a family of charitable initiatives, programs and organizations focused on building community and creating opportunity.

About Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA): PLA is a nonprofit turnaround school operator with a network of high quality, tuition-free public and charter schools across the United States. PLA currently serves 10,000 scholars in 20 schools across the country.