We Bridge the Access Gap

We believe that everyone should have equal access to jobs. At Skills, we work to make that possible by reducing barriers to employment through partnering with leading companies ready to hire unemployed and underemployed job seekers. Jobs can be life-changing, and we're here to make that a reality.

We Start with the Job

Our Mission

Stand as a life-changing employment resource by connecting underrepresented job seekers to employers with opportunities across industries.

Our Vision

To create a future where all job seekers—regardless of background—have equitable access to employment opportunities that lead to long-term financial stability. We envision a more inclusive job market that recognizes and values the potential of overlooked talent in Chicago and beyond.

Our Impact

We remove barriers to employment by bridging the gap between job seekers and employers, driving economic mobility in historically disinvested communities. Through direct hiring connections, advocacy for inclusive hiring practices, and community partnerships, we help job seekers secure stable employment that leads to upward mobility.

We Prove that Equity Works

And we're committed to growing our impact over the next three years by scaling our demand-driven programs, diversifying job types, and driving innovation—with the end goal of placing 4,500 unemployed and underemployed candidates into roles that drive their career growth and financial mobility.

Learn about our Strategic Plan

12,150+

lifetime placements

130+

employer partners

60%

of 2023 placements are female

88%

of 2023 placements are BIPOC

$6,120

more earned by Skills placement each year

$278.1M

total wage impact

Read our 2022 Impact Report

Meeting Job Seekers Where They Live

Over 70% of our applicants come from historically underserved neighborhoods on Chicago’s South and West Sides. To make good on our commitment to reduce barriers to employment and build access to economic opportunity, we launched Skills Neighborhood Link, an initiative to provide resources and one-on-one support from the Skills team in city neighborhoods. We opened our Englewood office in July 2021, a co-located space in North Lawndale (partnership with North Lawndale Employment Network) in April 2022, and another co-located space in Gage Park (partnership with PODER) in March 2023.

Chicago Locations

Loop

205 W. Wacker Dr., Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606

Englewood

815 W. 63rd St., Second Floor
Chicago, IL 60621

Member of the Greater Englewood Community Development Corporation

North Lawndale

1111 S. Homan
Chicago, IL 60624

In partnership with North Lawndale Employment Network

Gage Park

3357 W. 55th St.
Chicago, IL 60632

In partnership with PODER

Expanding our Network

We recently announced plans to expand our jobs-first workforce development model to 25 sites nationally over the next 10 years. Current Skills sites in Chicago and Rhode Island have generated a combined economic impact of $307.3M since 2012.

Discover how you can transform lives and champion economic mobility in your city or region by joining the Skills network.

Learn more

OUR BOARD

Health Care Service Corporation

Manika Turnbull, Ph.D., Chair

Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer

Skills for Chicagoland's Future

Bridget Altenburg

Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Bilek

Partner, Central Talent Leader

BMO Harris Bank

Carolyn Booth

Head of Distribution, US Personal and Business Banking

Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

John Challenger

Chief Executive Officer

Walmart

Adonis Clark Sr.

Vice President | Regional General Manager

CDW

Christina Corley

Chief Commercial and Operating Officer

Polk Bros Foundation

Gillian Darlow

Chief Executive Officer

Discover Financial Services

Andy Eichfeld

Formerly EVP, Chief Human Resources & Administrative Officer

HR Policy Association

Rich Floersch

Senior Strategic Advisor

CNO Financial Group, Inc.

Yvonne Franzese

Chief Human Resources Officer

Freedman Seating Co.

Craig Freedman

Chief Executive Officer

Northern Trust

Daniel Gamba

President, Asset Management

Old National Bank

Corliss Garner

Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

Just Act Partners

Juatise Gathings

Founder

Accenture

Srron Graham

Managing Director, Accenture Strategy

Rush University Medical Center

Courtney Kammer

Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer

Hub International

Mark Kendall

Executive Vice President

Kin + Carta

Kelly Manthey

CEO

Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Malaika Myers

Chief Human Resources Officer

Vantage Airport Group; Midway Partnership

Sammy Patel

Vice President, Commercial, Vantage Airport Group; CEO, Midway Partnership

KPMG

Claudia Saran

Vice Chair, Culture

Depaul University

Arbin Smith

Chief of Staff, VP for Strategic Initiatives

Endeavor Health

Dianna Sparacino

Chief Human Resources Officer

Jewel-Osco

Eric Stevenson

Vice President, Human Resources

Wintrust Financial Corporation

Gina Stuart

Vice President, Human Resources

Milhouse Engineering and Construction, Inc.

Cory White

Chief Legal Officer/ COO, Production and Delivery (Forestry, Services, Construction)

Littler Mendelson, P.C.

Michael A. Wilder

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Audrey Williams-Lee

Formerly Chief People Officer

SKILLS BOARD CHAIRS

Manika Turnbull, Ph.d.

Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer

2024-Present

Mark Hoplamazian

President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation

2018-2024

Greg Brown

Chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions

2015-2018

Glenn Tilton

Former Midwest Chairman of JPMorgan Chase & Co; Former Chairman of United Continental Holdings

2013-2015

Penny Pritzker

Founding Board Chair

Founder and Chairman of PSP Partners; Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce

2012-2013

Mayra Alarcon

Vice President, National Expansion

Bridget Altenburg

Chief Executive Officer

Tabatha Cobb

Vice President, Programs

Kate Hermann Stone

Vice President, External Affairs

Pamela Tully

President & Chief Operating Officer

Sarah Black

Director, Finance

Kim Dole

Director, Business Development & Operations

Reena Patel

Director, Business Development & Client Services

Yesenia Perez

Director, Learning & Development

Tanille Smith

Director, Strategic Initiatives

Join Our Team

Do you have a passion for workforce development and impacting the economic mobility of Chicago’s historically underserved communities? If you also value intellectual curiosity and data-driven solutions, innovation and change, and equity and integrity, we invite you to browse open positions at Skills and apply today.

Join Our Team