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3 Workforce Development Initiatives in the Chicago Area
Pages 11-20

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From page 11...
... Though not explicitly intended to do so, these three presentations form a forceful response to Spriggs' call for reinvestment in human capital. Workforce development can prepare people for good jobs while giving them the tools, skills, and knowledge they need to remain healthy and build healthy communities.
From page 12...
... The African American and Latino communities have a combined annual purchasing power of more than $1.4 trillion, and the development of opportunity youth adds to that buying power. "It's hard to buy a $5 Starbucks coffee if you don't have a job.
From page 13...
... As of the work shop, 32 employers had been engaged in Chicago, Columbus, and Los Angeles; 1,000 hires had been made; and the retention rate was 85 percent. The organization has an intensive recruiting process, along with 2 days of empowerment instruction at the beginning of training.
From page 14...
... By driving innovation, diversity expands the competitive advantage of companies, which creates a competitive economy, she explained. At the same time, opportunity youth gain improved quality of life through such factors as increased independence, better physical health and social relationships, and access to healthier living environments, while the home communities of opportunity youth become safer and more economically vibrant.
From page 15...
... "So maybe we can add health care advocate to the list." The experience has demonstrated that
From page 16...
... They also can apply for positions with other companies through the North Lawndale Employment Network, which Palms Barber also directs. When asked in the discussion session why the program has been so successful, Palms Barber pointed to the restoration of employees' self-worth, explaining that "We're excited to do that, not only from a reentry perspective but from a health care perspective as well." In response to a question about working with prisoners even before they leave jail, Palms Barber said that she was interested in that option, because "urban beekeeping is tough." One option would be to establish apiaries and partnerships with prisons so that people have jobs as soon as they leave and do not have to look for one.
From page 17...
... For example, said Westbrook, Rush University Medical Center has been heavily involved in making sure that the state-of-the-art health care facility built at nearby Malcolm X College aligns with industry standards. At Olive-Harvey College, a multimillion transportation distribution and logistics center reflects input from corporate partners such as UPS and FedEx.
From page 18...
... It has six milestones: • Ensuring all children enter school cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally ready • Ensuring all children read at grade level by third grade • Ensuring all youth graduate from high school • Ensuring all youth complete postsecondary education or training • Ensuring all youth out of school are employed • Ensuring all youth remain safe from violent crime In response to a question about how even youth with extensive training cannot find good jobs in health care, Westbrook said that the City of Chicago has been expanding access to the 12 colleges in the city through need-based scholarships, so that "a student who graduates from Malcolm X has a pathway into a 4-year degree." Scholarships address the needs of students while also giving the colleges an opportunity to increase diversity on their campuses. In addition, said Westbrook, the city has been making a broader effort to make sure that higher education degrees are aligned with where the jobs are.
From page 19...
... Certainly not, and there are more folks coming out as ex-offenders than there are job opportunities," he concluded. But such programs mark an acknowledgment on the part of government that this population needs to be served better than it has been in the past.


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