This summer we connected over 265 youth and young adults between the age of 14-24 to various career exploration and employment opportunities. On July 5th, their various employment programs began in partnership with the Department of Family and Support Services - One Summer Chicago, After School Matters, Chicago Park District - Summer Kickback, Economic Awareness Council, My Chi. My Future., and various other entities. Youth and young adults worked or gained experience in art, media and technology, community engagement, law, health, urban agriculture, human resources, and many other fields. Though most of the youth worked on our campus, some interns were placed at organizations including CHAMPS Mentoring, 40+ Double Dutch, LLC, Year 60 Photography, Molar City Dental, and O'Connor & Battle, LLP. It was wonderful to have our first youth employment summer program fully in-person. Some of the highlights identified by our interns, apprentices and others included our weekly training workshops covering topics like "Cultural Competency", DEI, Workplace Basics, Financial Education, Resume Development, College 101, Pathways & Adulting, as well as our annual Career Day. Our successful summer of career skill-building and exploration culminated with our Summer Showcase and Summer Kickback event visited by Chicago's First Lady, Amy Eshleman where our young people proudly shared their projects, performances and more. In our end of summer employment survey, our youth shared their favorite aspects of their experience. Two common themes among them were “meeting new people” and “learning interesting new things”. We are grateful to have the opportunity to help these exceptional young people cultivate their personal career pathways.
