During her four years at Pike High School, Brandi Molina-Menjivar struggled with social anxiety. After starting as a freshman in the fall of 2020, Molina-Menjivar limited herself to a small bubble of friends and familiar faces.
Then, halfway through her senior year, Molina-Menjivar took a bold step. She applied for a spring internship at the DirectEmployers Institute, an Indianapolis nonprofit founded in 2014 to connect underprivileged students with careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The role included organizing the flagship STEM YES! summer camp, which brings together middle and high school students for two-week sessions to build robots, develop business plans and learn about various STEM careers.
The paid internships typically go to students, founder Simone Murray told IndyStar, but she was impressed by Molina-Menjivar’s story and offered her the job. Molina-Menjivar, the youngest of four children whose parents migrated to Indianapolis from El Salvador shortly before her birth, said she was the first of her siblings to graduate from high school.
Program Manager Brandi Molina-Menjivar poses for a photo on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at the DirectEmployers Institute (DEI) offices in Indianapolis. DEI is an organization that helps underrepresented students experience STEM careers with Indiana employers. Molina-Menjivar started as an intern in March and now works part-time with the organization.
Molina-Menjivar’s role included recruiting camp participants, so she gave informational speeches to her peers at Pike High School this spring. The presentations taught her how to carry herself with confidence, she said.
That experience helped her land a summer internship with the organization and take stock while working with older interns.
After her internships, Molina-Menjivar accepted a part-time role as a program manager at the nonprofit. She said she plans to work there until next summer while using this year as a gap year to decide if and where to attend college.
“A lot of students now don’t really talk to each other or interact with each other unless they’re asked to…,” she told IndyStar in a recent interview at the offices of the DirectEmployers Institute. “I was also in that category where I really didn’t want to talk to anyone, let alone work with anyone, unless I already felt comfortable with them.”
“I want to help other students overcome similar struggles to what I had to go through,” she added.
The camp participants focus on STEM education, Murray said, and interns like Molina-Menjivar help show young students the benefits of breaking out of their social shell. The program aims to give campers not only new technical skills through the institute’s job shadowing and training programs, but also the confidence to say yes to opportunities.
“It identifies the skills you don’t know you have,” Murray said, “and then it gives you the confidence to think outside of what you thought you wanted or what your parents wanted.”
Program Manager Brandi Molina-Menjivar works at the DirectEmployers Institute (DEI) office in Indianapolis on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. DEI is an organization that helps underrepresented students experience STEM careers with Indiana employers. Molina-Menjivar started as an intern in March and now works part-time with the organization.
What is the mission of the organization?
DirectEmployers Institute is a nonprofit organization that gives middle and high school students, especially those who do not have access to good-paying jobs because of their socioeconomic status or disability, the opportunity to explore STEM careers with Indiana employers through job shadowing and internship programs.
How many people does it serve?
In 2024, the DirectEmployers Institute served more than 500 students.
What is the organization’s number 1 need?
The institute’s top priority is to raise more money so it can reach more students. For example, although 150 students attended this year’s STEM summer camp, an equal number were on the waitlist, Murray said.
How can people get involved?
Anyone can donate money, and business leaders can support the DirectEmployers Institute by offering job shadowing opportunities, organizing field trips and sending guest speakers to train students. For more information, email Murray at simone@directemployersinstitute.org.
About DirectEmployers Institute
Address: 9100 Purdue Road, Suite 400, Raybourn Group International, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Phone number: 317-388-5362
Website: https://directemployersinstitute.org/
How you can help during Season for Sharing
The mission of IndyStar’s annual Season for Sharing campaign is to harness the power of local journalism and make a difference in the lives of Central Indiana youth.
This year, Season for Sharing joins the Summer Youth Program Fund, a partnership of Indianapolis funders that supports high-quality programs serving more than 80,000 Marion County youth each year. Your gift to Season for Sharing makes it possible for children to walk, play sports, act, sing, paint, grow food, conduct experiments, build robots, solve problems, explore the city, carry out service projects, gain skills and earn money during their time outside of school.
Last year, the Summer Youth Program Fund was only able to provide 55 cents for every dollar requested. Your generosity makes a big difference in the lives of young people in our community.
To contribute, visit indystar.com/ocdonate or send a check to: Central Indiana Community Foundation, Attn: Season for Sharing, 615 N. Alabama St. Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Because IndyStar covers all fundraising and administrative costs, 100% of your donation goes directly to Central Indiana agencies.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Season for Sharing: Indianapolis STEM summer camp for underserved students
