Workforce Pathways Accelerator Initiative leads to industry credentials, jobs, better wages

Karrise and her family pose for a photo in April 2025 at graduation from the Career Pathway Navigator Program at Dress for Success Indianapolis. The nonprofit was one of two to pilot United Way’s Workforce Pathways Accelerator Initiative in its first year. (Photo courtesy of Dress for Success Indianapolis)

The program was a perfect fit.  

Karrise previously worked jobs that were physically demanding: retail, work in a hospital cafe. She had just earned child care credentials when, in 2016, she had a stroke.  

Karrise had to rebuild her life and relearn so many things. It took time to regain strength and reenter the workforce – all while raising two teenage daughters.  

She could no longer work the same types of jobs. Karrise saw listings for administrative work, but it was hard to get in the door without experience in the field.  

Then she got connected to Dress for Success Indianapolis and a new program there – part of an initiative from United Way of Central Indiana.  

Over ten weeks, Karrise completed training – and earned her credential – to become a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant. With her CMAA, Karrise can see herself in a job that is meaningful, where she can stay for the long term and work up the career ladder.  

Already, she’s thinking about additional health care credentials she hopes to pursue. 

“I am very persistent. I am determined,” Karrise said. “Once I have my mind focused on something, I’m going to go after it, regardless of what may come in my way.”  

Launched in July 2024, United Way’s Workforce Pathways Accelerator Initiative is designed to be an “on ramp” for people seeking industry-recognized credentials, helping them earn certifications and land jobs that pay livable wages – on a quick timeline. Dress for Success Indianapolis and Indianapolis Urban League piloted the initiative in its first year. United Way funding – a $200,000 grant to each nonprofit – covered the cost of participants’ training and certification testing, helped eliminate barriers and allowed the nonprofits to hire a coach to guide them through training and employment – and beyond.  

United Way and its partners anticipated serving 40 people in the first year. But more than 130 have enrolled, and over 30 have earned credentials, said Bernadette Monk, United Way’s economic mobility director. 

In July 2025, United Way expanded the initiative to include three additional partners for the coming year. Urban League already has a wait list, and Dress for Success Indianapolis plans to launch its next program this fall, with 30 women participating.   

“Our work doesn’t stop. There is a huge need for this type of programming,” Monk said. “Residents and neighbors are interested in short-term credentials, because it gives them hope. In that quick amount of time, they’re able to see their income increase.”   

For 26 years, Dress for Success Indianapolis has provided women with a network of support to help them become economically independent and thrive in business and life. The nonprofit expects to serve over 1,000 women in 2025.  

With this new program, Dress for Success Indianapolis is doing something it hadn’t done before: provide women with direct training to earn a credential.  

“United Way of Central Indiana has been a game-changer for Dress for Success Indianapolis,” said Executive Director Julie Petr. “We could not have launched this innovative, exciting program without their vision and without their funding.” 

In selecting CMAA certification, Dress for Success Indianapolis chose credentialing in the medical field – where jobs are essential and in-demand. Visionary Health Group Consulting provided the training, and Dress for Success Indianapolis built partnerships with both Community Health Network and Eskenazi Health to lead to employment opportunities for the women once they earned credentials.  

“It’s tremendously exciting,” Petr said. “We wanted a program that was accelerated, that would lead to direct hire, that would lead to jobs that pay living wages – and that were also critical to the state of Indiana.” 

Dress for Success Indianapolis built its new Career Pathway Navigator Program in a way that worked best for the women, scheduling classes and study sessions for times that fit their schedules. Marion Muthama, the program’s manager, worked one-on-one with the 12 women to ensure they had everything they needed.  

Muthama worked to remove any barriers standing in the way of their success. If they needed help with child care, transportation, utilities, housing, laptops – it was covered. Funding also paid for training, which at nearly $5,000 for CMAA classes is a barrier in and of itself.  

“Through United Way, we were able to fund those barriers and help them navigate through that,” Muthama said. “That was not going to stop them from getting to the end."  

As of early June 2025, the women were starting job interviews – with two already landing positions, one as a patient access representative and another as a receptionist.  

In April, Dress for Success Indianapolis celebrated the program’s end with a graduation: caps and gowns, pomp and circumstance. Muthama had seen the women grow not only skills but self-confidence and pride.  

Karrise’s mom came from Kentucky to attend, her daughters and sister also in the audience. She held up her certificate, proud to show her daughters they can accomplish anything – no matter what.  

“It really made us feel like we are stepping into a new path,” she said.   

This story appeared in United Way of Central Indiana’s 2024-2025 annual report. For more stories of impact, view the full report online.