Episode 23: Partnering for Upward Mobility: How City Colleges and Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership are Transforming Lives
Release Date: 05/06/2024
Episode 31: Hospitality Hires Chicago: Where Employers Are Ready to Hire Today
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Hospitality Hires Chicago, a Partnership production, offers a truly exceptional hiring experience. If you're selecting just one employment event this year, here's why this should be your choice: You'll be matched with the ideal employer for your skills and aspirations. The event's "secret sauce" is that all participating organizations must come with open positions and be ready to hire on the spot! You won't find dead-end jobs here. Instead, discover rewarding career opportunities with competitive wages and comprehensive benefits across diverse sectors including childcare, healthcare, public...
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Episode 30: Flipping the Pyramid: A New Approach to Chicago's Community Safety
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In this episode, Chicago’s Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood joins host and CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership George Wright to discuss Chicago's innovative approach to violence reduction and its intersection with workforce development. The deputy mayor outlines his office's strategy of empowering neighborhoods to participate in sharing their priorities and thoughts in developing local safety initiatives, working block by block to address unique local needs. The conversation explores the vital link between employment and safety, showcased by a recent hiring fair...
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Episode 29: Beyond Traditional Trades: The New Face of Modern Apprenticeships
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In recognition of the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week, this episode explores the transformative power of modern apprenticeship programs through an engaging discussion with employers, apprentices, and workforce development leaders. Led by George Wright, CEO of The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, the conversation features insights from Rob Johnson of the Building Owners and Management Association of Chicago, Jennifer Charles of GCJ Hospitality Resources, and apprentices Natalie Guzman and Janira Martinez. The discussion highlights how apprenticeships have evolved beyond traditional...
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Episode 28: The Opportunity Pipeline: Connecting Youth to In-Demand Careers
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This episode originally aired on WVON-AM radio and explores youth workforce development programs in Cook County. Host George Wright, CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, is joined by Joshua, a program coordinator for the Partnership's Community Innovations and Impact team. The conversation focuses on two key initiatives: Opportunity Works and Opportunity Summer, which connect young people with paid internships and training in high-growth industries. Joshua discusses the programs' origins, their impact on youth, and the various career pathways available. Discover insights into how...
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Episode 27: Healthcare Horizons: Diverse Careers in a Booming Industry
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This episode originally aired on WVON-AM radio and explores the diverse career opportunities within the healthcare industry. Host George Wright, CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, is joined by a community health worker with the South Side Healthy Community Organization and the Deputy Project Director of the Partnership's Healthcare Sector Center. The conversation dispels common myths about healthcare careers, highlighting that the field extends far beyond just doctors and nurses. Discover the importance of preventive care, the need for diversity in healthcare, and how individuals...
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Episode 26: The Revolution Workshop: Paving Pathways to Construction Career
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This episode originally aired on WVON-AM radio and explores the critical role of construction careers in creating family-sustaining pathways and addressing workforce diversity challenges. Host George Wright, CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, is joined by guest Manny Rodriguez, Executive Director of Revolution Workshop. They discuss how organizations like Revolution Workshop are working to meet the demand for a more diverse and skilled construction workforce. The conversation highlights the misconceptions surrounding careers in construction, the importance of early exposure to...
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Episode 25: Bridging Education and Careers: The City College-Workforce Partnership
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This episode originally aired on WVON-AM radio and features a discussion about the groundbreaking partnership between Malcolm X College's Westside Learning Center, KRA, and the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership. Guests David A. Sanders, President of Malcolm X College, Dean Barbara Meschino, and Nieal Ross from KRA Corporation share insights on how this collaboration is transforming lives in Chicago's Austin community by providing accessible education, career training, and job placement services all under one roof. The conversation highlights the $20 million investment in the Westside Learning...
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Episode 24: ConstructionWorks: Building Bridges to Construction Careers
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This episode originally aired on WVON-AM radio and features a discussion about ConstructionWorks, a workforce development program funded by the Illinois Tollway, and administered by The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership. Host and CEO of the Partnership, George Wright, is joined by Cassaundra Rouse, Executive Director of the Illinois Tollway, and Marlene Vick, Acting Chief of Diversity for the Illinois Tollway. They explore how ConstructionWorks is designed to increase diversity and access to high-paying careers in the construction industry, particularly in heavy highway construction work. The...
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Episode 23: Partnering for Upward Mobility: How City Colleges and Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership are Transforming Lives
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Host George Wright, CEO of The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, is joined by City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado, as they discuss their intentional partnership to connect the 60,000+ City Colleges students with career opportunities. Discover how this collaboration between the workforce and education systems aims to provide upward mobility and equity for Chicago's students. You'll also hear about the importance of higher education in gaining skills and stability in the job market, and the critical role of partnerships between workforce development and educational institutions in...
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Episode 22: Turning up the Volume on the American Job Center Network: Behind the Scenes of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership's American Job Center “Level Up” Campaign
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Join host George Wright, Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, as he discusses the organization's new "Level Up Your Career" and "Power Up Your Business" campaign. Joining the conversation are Vanessa Lopez Jackson, a leader at The Lemon Ad Stand creative agency which developed the gaming-themed campaign aimed at promoting the region's ten American Job Centers. Also featured are Lisa Maentz and Clelia Ferro, leaders at AJCs in suburban Cook County, who share how the centers provide services for career seekers and employers, evolve to meet changing needs, and foster...
info_outlineHost George Wright, CEO of The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, is joined by City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado, as they discuss their intentional partnership to connect the 60,000+ City Colleges students with career opportunities. Discover how this collaboration between the workforce and education systems aims to provide upward mobility and equity for Chicago's students. You'll also hear about the importance of higher education in gaining skills and stability in the job market, and the critical role of partnerships between workforce development and educational institutions in bridging the gap between students and meaningful career paths.