Chicago Career Tech (CCT) began its first class of participants just a month ago and the launch was great! There are 155 CCT participants serving more than 60 non-profit agencies, each week. It’s been really amazing to receive all the feedback from agencies and participants about how wonderful this experience has been for them. Here’s what a couple of participants had to say about their service-learning experience so far:
“…each day I am more grateful for this “Outstanding Experience”. It has now been 2-3 full weeks into the program. I am so energized and motivated by the opportunity and the benefits of this initiative… I am elated to be in the pilot program on the front end of this tremendous opportunity.” -Maria Peel, CCT Participant at Hales Franciscan High School (service-learning host site) and Bronner Group, LLC (private-sector host site)
“Just wanted to let you know that I love my service assignment and it is a wonderful experience.” -Sydney Williams, CCT Participant at La Casa Norte (service-learning host site) and Northwestern Memorial Hospital (private-sector host site)
Essentially, Chicago Career Tech is a six-month training program designed to transition unemployed Chicagoans back into the workforce with improved technology skills. The program consists of classroom training, job shadowing at private-sector business and a service-learning experience at a non-profit. Each component of the program is carried out two days per week for a total of 6-days a week of training.
United Way was chosen by Chicago Career Tech to match CCT participants with non-profit agencies that have technology based service-learning opportunities available. Once a match has been made, we manage the relationship between participant and agency, ensuring that all parties involved have an amazing experience.
If you are with a non-profit agency that has technology projects and would like to host Chicago Career Tech participants at your site, please contact Carrie Newton at Carrie.Newton@uw-mc.org. We are looking for sites for our second class, which will begin their service-learning assignment in the Fall.
If you are an unemployed professional who used to make between $25,000 and $75,000, living in the City of Chicago, and you’d like to join Chicago Career Tech’s second class that will start in the Fall, you can find more details about the program and the application at www.chicagocareertech.com.
United Way is excited to be partnering with Mayor Daley’s Office, World Business Chicago, Chicago Career Tech, and 60+ amazing non-profit agencies in this first class. Thank you to everyone who played a role in getting this program up and running!
