Planting Seeds for a Career in Leadership

By: Jeremy Kranowitz

For Jillian Lain, her career in community engagement and leadership began with a shovel in hand and a passion for making a difference. As a Youth Tree Team (YTT) leader in 2007, Jillian didn’t know then that her summer job with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) would shape the way she approached her professional journey, leadership style, and sense of home in Indianapolis.

Finding a Path at KIB

Jillian’s journey with KIB began while she was a college student at the University of Indianapolis. Interested in environmental work, she stumbled upon the YTT job posting on an internship website and decided to apply. That decision led to an experience that would lay the foundation for her future career.

“This position set the stage for the way I navigated my career and how I wanted to engage with colleagues and peers,” Jillian reflects. “It helped me develop leadership skills—not just in being responsible for others, but in making real decisions about how work gets done.”

Her time as a YTT leader gave her firsthand experience in workforce development, community outreach, and environmental stewardship—lessons she continues to carry in her role today as Executive Director of Integrated Student Support & Center Strategy at the Center for Vibrant Schools.

Building Leadership & Community Engagement

While her summer with YTT was focused on tree planting and conservation, Jillian saw a larger impact beyond the physical work. Between summer employment sessions, she participated in a community organizing program, where she learned about relationship-building, engagement strategies, and recruitment tactics. YTT became the perfect space to put those skills into action.

“I was able to apply my relationship-building skills and collaboration tactics to recruit students through school partnerships,” she explains. “It showed me how important it is to connect with people to make a real difference.”

This ability to connect communities and work across different sectors became a skill she would rely on throughout her career. KIB’s programs, she notes, are more than just environmental efforts—they serve as workforce pipelines that prepare young people for leadership.

The Lasting Impact of KIB’s Workforce Development

Beyond tree planting and beautification efforts, KIB equips young people with real-world job experience. Through regular evaluations and hands-on work, participants learn to recognize both their strengths and areas for growth.

“KIB helps young people gain necessary work experience and build the soft skills required to be successful in the workforce,” Jillian says. “It also pays them a fair and respectable wage—something many youth struggle to find in their first employment opportunity.”

These foundational lessons extend far beyond summer jobs. Jillian continues to apply leadership principles she first learned at KIB, including the value of leading by example.

“If I expect something of others, I should expect it of myself too,” she says. “That’s a mindset that has stayed with me.”

A Personal Connection to Indianapolis

While Jillian’s professional growth is deeply tied to KIB, so is her personal connection to Indianapolis itself.

“KIB gave me my first experiences working with people from various backgrounds—neighbors, city officials, philanthropy leaders, and young people,” she shares. “And I secretly love that I still know all the nooks and crannies of the city because of my KIB work.”

In fact, her connection to KIB runs so deep that she now lives in the same neighborhood where she planted her first tree.

Carrying the Mission Forward

For Jillian, being an environmental steward means recognizing how individual actions can create meaningful change—and teaching others how to do the same. Her time with YTT not only gave her leadership skills but also a lifelong dedication to sustainability and community building.

Reflecting on her experience, she knows that the impact of programs like YTT extends well beyond a single summer. They shape leaders, strengthen communities, and help young people see their city in a new way.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without KIB,” she says. “It made Indianapolis feel like home.”

Ready to Plant the Seeds for Your Future? 🌱

The Youth Tree Team is more than just a summer job—it’s a chance to gain hands-on experience, build leadership skills, and make a lasting impact on Indianapolis. Applications for this summer’s program close on April 1, so don’t miss your opportunity to apply!

Categories: Engaged Citizens, News & Features, Volunteers, Youth Tree Team