YJC September 2022 Newsletter |
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Dear Friends,
I am Lucretzia M. Jamison, the new Executive Director of YJC. During these first few months, I have learned that YJC is a great family. I have been welcomed and warmed by each of you. I have loved getting to know you all through our coffee dates, lunch meetings, and phone calls.
When I think about the YJC family, bonded through our commitment to helping young adults find success in the workplace, it inspires me to do more than what is required. It gives me hope that we are moving toward an environment where our future workforce has the skill, support, care, and outcomes to thrive.
This success cannot be accomplished as an individual organization – when we work alone, we often lack the resources, expertise, and human capital to make the impact we seek. But together, we can bring the necessary synergy to create a larger impact.
When our volunteers, financial resources, board members, clients, staff, community partners, and everyone in-between come together – that’s the Power of Partnership.
It was wonderful seeing you all at our Annual Meeting, and I am excited to work alongside, collaborate, and build partnerships with you into this new fiscal year and beyond.
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Celebrating the Power of Partnership
At our Annual Meeting, we honored two employer partners who have gone above and beyond for our clients - Everywhere Wireless and Old Navy (pictured).
Old Navy has been partnering with YJC for their This Way ONward program for some time. YJC recruits and trains clients for an 8-week Old Navy internship through the program. We have been excited to grow, fine-tune, and embellish our partnership over the years. Over the past few months, more than 70 clients successfully complete their This Way ONward internship. Now, we are working to recruit clients for over 40 permanent Brand Associate positions at Old Navy stores throughout the Chicagoland area.
Everywhere Wireless is a newer partner of YJC's - they work closely with our Career Pathways team to provide paid work experiences for clients new to the I.T. field. Since beginning our partnership, two clients have successfully completed paid work experiences and transitioned into full-time tech roles at Everywhere Wireless. Another client is on their second paid work experience with Everywhere Wireless, learning the ins and outs of marketing for a tech company.
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FY22 At-a-Glance
Our 2022 fiscal year wrapped up on June 30th. We are excited to share some of our highlights with you:
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Nearly 1,100 young people were served
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77% attended and completed Workforce Readiness Training (WRT)
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39% of clients received individual coaching services and developed individual employment plans
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24% of clients were placed into employment
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4% of clients earned vocational credentials
As we transition into our 2023 fiscal year, our upcoming priorities are to:
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Serve 1,200 young people (11.2% growth)
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Have 83% of our clients attend and complete WRT (12% growth)
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Have 41% of clients receive individualized coaching services (12% growth)
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Place 360 clients into employment (40% growth, bringing YJC to a 30% placement rate)
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Have 75 clients earn vocational credentials (56% growth, bringing YJC to a 6.3% credential rate)
This fiscal year we will see growth in many of our programs, allowing us to impact more young people throughout Chicagoland. We are excited for the year ahead!
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Departing Board Members
During our Annual Meeting, we honored our departing Board members Jeff Coney (pictured), Amy Mosser, Frank Adams, and Mike Rogers.
Thank you all for your commitment, leadership, service, and dedication to our mission and clients!
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YJC Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15th marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, which recognizes and celebrates the diverse cultures, many contributions, and extensive histories of Hispanic and Latinx communities around the world. YJC is proud to support Chicagoland’s Hispanic and Latinx young adults to find success in the workplace. This month, we celebrate all our Hispanic or Latinx identifying clients, staff, and supporters' achievements!
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Client of the Month
Kelin is only 21 years old and already doing big things! Kelin joined Youth Job Center knowing he wanted to enter the trucking industry and was ready to take charge. Since beginning his journey with YJC, he showed that he was dedicated and committed to his goal of obtaining a Class A CDL. Not only is Kelin a dedicated and committed person, but he is also humorous and a joy to be around.
In March 2022, Kelin enrolled in Progressive Truck Driving School in Lansing, IL. The road for Kelin to obtain his CDL was not easy, but he stayed persistent and motivated and pushed through adversity. Kelin continuously showed up for his classes and excelled in his training program. In August 2022, he obtained his Class A CDL!
Since gaining his CDL through the help of Progressive and YJC, Kelin received an immediate employment offer with Werner Truck Driving. Kelin is finishing up his training with Werner and will soon be getting his own truck to drive by himself! YJC is incredibly proud of Kelin and knows he has a bright future ahead of him.
Happy Trucking, Kelin!
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Looking for a job? Workforce Readiness Training can help!
If you've been looking for work, or are having trouble landing a job, then come to one of our Workforce Readiness Training (WRT) sessions. Our two-week long WRTs prepare clients to succeed in finding and keeping a job. If you are interested in attending one, please click here to learn more!
Upcoming Workforce Readiness Training sessions:
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September 26th - October 7th, Monday - Friday from 1pm - 3pm
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October 17th - 28th, Monday - Friday from 1pm - 3pm
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November 7th - 18th, Monday - Friday from 1pm - 3pm
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November 28th - December 9th, Monday - Friday from 1pm - 3pm
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Meet the YJC Team
Meet our Career Pathways Assistant Manager, Rosal! Rosal has been with YJC since 2019, where she develops our Career Pathways programming on the North side and connects clients to paid work experiences, educational opportunities, and credentials that put them on the path toward a successful career. Rosal joined YJC to continue to advocate, empower, and uplift youth that have been historically marginalized and systemically excluded. By leading with empathy, her responsibility is to instill in her clients the skills and belief that they are great – because they are!
Rosal is most proud of her ability to relate to the young adults YJC serves, “I don’t do this work for the accolades, but rather to provide access to the resources that are often not presented to black and brown youth. When they succeed, I succeed.” Rosal hopes her clients learn from her that success is not linear, meaning you determine what success looks like for yourself, whether big or small – and to always know your worth, advocate for others, and lead with integrity. Outside of work, Rosal is intentional about honoring her ancestors, parenting her daughter in a community with black and brown individuals, grounding herself in nature, and laughing with her family.
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