Several times a week, a team of American Indian OIC career counselors head out of the office and into prisons and jails to engage in the challenging work of supporting youth and adults as they prepare to leave incarceration and integrate back into the community.
When Marie joined the AIOIC’s career counseling program last year, she was at a turning point. After leaving a job that wasn’t fulfilling, she found herself receiving cash benefits and searching for a new direction. Having worked in several industries Marie knew she wanted something different: a stable office job where she could grow, feel appreciated, and give back to her community.
Ammilyn, Fond du Lac band of Minnesota Chippewa and Cheyenne River Sioux, enrolled in Takoda GED program after leaving a suburban Twin Cities high school, where she at times felt unwelcome and grappled with mental health challenges.
Shorone faced a challenging two-hour commute via light rail and bus for his $15-per-hour job at Dairy Queen after incarceration. Now, at 51, he drives a 2012 Jeep Cherokee to his $24-per-hour construction job, operating a forklift. Grateful for the support from American Indian OIC/Takoda, he earned lift operation certificates, securing better employment opportunities. With assistance in job search, license recovery, and stress reduction, Shorone appreciates the dedicated team, recommending AIOIC/Takoda to others for a brighter future
Anthony’s life transformed when he discovered American Indian OIC’s Takoda programs while incarcerated. Engaging with Takoda’s SOAR program post-release, he built a resume, gained county benefits insights, and received vital support. Securing a job at Brin Glass, he now enjoys stability, redirecting his life positively.
Jessica first heard about American Indian OIC through the South Minneapolis community. She had previously enrolled in our GED program, but didn’t finish. After gaining custody of her nephew, she felt a renewed motivation to attain her GED—a personal goal she was ready to tackle, despite not ever being a big fan of school.
Takoda Institute graduate Tyler Mullen spent his summer doing an internship in the IT department of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx. The company’s internships are designed to give early-career professionals meaningful experience across multiple areas of technology. For Tyler, this meant applying the IT credentials he earned through the Takoda Institute to a real-world information technology environment.
