Twelve veterans are even closer to achieving their dream career!

HVAF’s VetWorks is a multi-phase, collaborative workforce development program for veterans. The program equips and trains veterans in order to obtain and maintain good and promising jobs. These veterans participated in an internship focused on building or re-establishing soft skills. This helped the veterans gain valuable work experience, develop workplace behaviors, and receive mentorship.

VetWorks Coordinator Kristin Burch worked with this first cohort, who began their training last spring.

“This seems like a dream! From working on the grant writing process last year to where we are now,” Burch said. “While there have been many trials and tribulations with this first cohort, we have grown in so many ways and very excited about what’s to come.”

HVAF CEO Emmy Hildebrand is excited about the opportunity to have a new Employment Program that sets up Indiana’s veterans with long-term careers and the skills to be self-sufficient.

“We are so thankful for the funding provided by Lilly Endowment to launch VetWorks,” Hildebrand said. “We are thrilled to celebrate with our first group of veterans and wish them well as they continue on in their new career field.”

After graduation, the next step is having the veterans join a training program based on their career goals or join an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.

Click here to check out Fox59’s story on this special event!

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