Community Link: Giving underrepresented minorities a path to Wall Street

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indiana Project, founded by David Girton, is helping minority students in Indianapolis pursue careers in finance by preparing them for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam.

The program aims to address the underrepresentation of minorities in the financial sector, where only 7% are minorities and 2% are Black, according to the EEOC. By training students to pass the SIE exam, the Indiana Project opens doors to careers on Wall Street, including roles such as investment banker, broker, analyst, and underwriter.

“Our desire at the Indiana Project is to attack those numbers and increase the amount of marginalized kids who wouldn’t ordinarily have access to Wall Street,” Gurton said.

The Indiana Project has successfully placed around 18 or 19 students in prestigious firms like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and BMO.

This year, the program is expanding to include high school students starting at age 17. These students will receive a year of training, fully funded by the program, allowing them to take the SIE exam by age 18.

Classes for the Indiana Project are held every Saturday at Indiana University Indianapolis, with the next cohort starting on Sept. 6. The program is open to any student interested in financial services, not just those majoring in business or finance.

Girton, who has over 30 years of experience in the investment field, emphasizes the program’s role in combating financial illiteracy in communities. By educating young people, the Indiana Project aims to create a ripple effect, where students teach their families and, in turn, strengthen their communities.

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