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Library outlines immigrant outreach resume program with CAFE and systemwide partnership growth
Summary
Library staff described a resume‑building program delivered in Haitian Creole in partnership with the Community Alliance of the Far East Side (CAFE). Systemwide, the library reported hundreds of active partnerships and off‑site programs in 2025.
John Helling, the Indianapolis Public Library’s chief public services officer, told trustees on Oct. 27 that partnerships are central to library strategy and that the system uses a formal community‑partnership policy (Policy 5‑22) to guide collaborations.
Helling presented a high‑level overview and turned to Sakurah (presenter identified as part of immigrant outreach) and Cora Fuqua, immigrant outreach program specialist, to describe a case study with the Community Alliance of the Far East Side (CAFE). "Partnerships are a huge part of what we do," Helling said, framing the presenters’ example.
Sakurah and Fuqua described a resume program co‑developed with CAFE that provides laptops, flash drives and bilingual instruction so participants leave with a finished resume. The program was piloted in language‑specific sessions; organizers had planned Spanish, Haitian Creole and French sessions but said demand led them to deliver additional sessions in Haitian Creole this cycle. Fuqua said 11 participants attended the session referenced at the meeting and organizers expect 17–18 participants by November.
Fuqua said CAFE’s staff assisted with outreach, registration and translation and provided insight into community needs; the library’s tech team adapted materials and guided participants on saving files and using devices. "This partnership has been meaningful because we are able to complement each other and support each other in our stronger areas," Fuqua said.
Helling offered systemwide statistics to show how common partnerships are in library work: of 256 community action plans in 2025, 232 (91%) proposed a partner; the system logged 174 community events attended, 97 partner‑hosted events and 1,465 off‑site programs at 170 partner locations (about 20% of programs). He said the library is building a partnership database and plans a partner feedback survey in 2026 to measure outcomes and improve collaborations.
Trustees asked whether the resume program tracks job offers or skill outcomes. Presenters said CAFE’s case managers have knowledge of participants and that capturing outcomes is feasible and could support grant funding.
Ending: Trustees commended the program and asked staff to consider collecting outcome metrics to support funding and program expansion.
