Man visiting booth at Mosaic Center job fair

A new chapter for the Mosaic Center

Launched in 2022 with $8 million in support from Lilly Endowment Inc., The Mosaic Center for Work, Life + Learning provides a “mosaic” of tailored services — career coaching, financial guidance, and connections to social supports — to help unemployed and under-employed adults, entry-level IU Health employees, former foster youth and Crispus Attucks High School students chart pathways to meaningful careers in healthcare through the IU Health Fellowship.

The Mosaic Center is the first employer-led replication of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s (LISC) Bridges to Career Opportunities model. It has already delivered transformative results: 358 individuals have earned Medical Assistant certifications, generating more than $1 million in economic impact, while dozens more have advanced through Registration Specialist and Sterile Processing programs. The Crispus Attucks Fellowship has also flourished, with 97 students participating and graduation rates rising alongside credential attainment.

Overcoming Challenges, Building Momentum

The journey has not been without obstacles. Delays in securing permanent space, leadership transitions and the complexities of integrating the LISC model into a large healthcare system slowed early progress.

A $3 million grant from Lilly Endowment in 2025 is helping The Mosaic Center enhance the member journey and improve outcomes:

Referral Incentives: Partner organizations will receive sub-grantee awards to refer job seekers, with a goal of 375 referrals over three years.

Job Matching Tools: Evidence-based assessments like ACT WorkKeys will align participants’ skills with IU Health roles, streamlining placements.

Pre-Career Readiness Training: A 75-hour paid program will prepare participants for the unique demands of healthcare work.

Hiring Department Champions: New hires will be paired with mentors to support retention and growth.

Expanded Earn-and-Learn Programs: Medical Assistant and Sterile Processing trainings will scale up, while new pathways for Pharmacy Tech and Patient Care Tech will be introduced.

Scholarships: IU Health employees will receive support to pursue high-demand certifications, bridging financial gaps and advancing economic mobility.

Community Voice Advisory Committee: Former and current Mosaic members will help shape programming through quarterly workshops.

Opening the Doors to a New Era

Ribbon Cutting at the Mosaic Center Grand Opening

Mosaic Center is now led by IU Health Executive Director of Workforce Development Rodney Francis and Director of Workforce Development Shadreck Kamwendo, who successfully spearheaded the launch of the philanthropy-funded Congregational Care Network through IU Health’s Chaplaincy Services Department. With new leadership in place, IU Health and Mosaic Center leadership cut the ribbon on a permanent home in late August. In just a few months, the results have been impressive.

“We are grateful for the continued support from Lilly Endowment,” Francis said. “These services are already at work reshaping Central Indiana’s workforce of the future.”

Metrics Since August 2025 Ribbon Cutting

New member enrollments: 54

Job readiness (CRT) completions: 10

Mosaic-affiliated connections from application day: 217

Total engagements: 311

Social media reach and engagement has increased by 966% since opening the new location.

A Collective Effort

The Mosaic Center thrives through collaboration. Partners such as LISC, United Way’s Center for Working Families, Wayne Township Adult Education, Ivy Tech, Dress for Success, and others continue to play vital roles in referral pathways, education and wraparound support.

IU Health Foundation has already invested $4.7 million in the Mosaic Center and Fellowship program, with an additional $817,000 secured from private donors and partners. Lilly Endowment’s supplemental grant ensures that this momentum continues, empowering more individuals to achieve lasting economic self-sufficiency.

Looking Ahead

Thanks to renewed support from Lilly Endowment, the Mosaic Center is ready to expand its reach, strengthen its impact and fulfill its vision of transforming lives through healthcare careers.

For information on how to support the Mosaic Center or other workforce development initiatives led by IU Health, learn more about getting involved at https://www.iuhealthfoundation.org/