2021 Impact Report:
Toward an Inclusive Recovery
The impact of the global pandemic was still felt in 2021 as employers and job seekers made sense of new workforce trends and realities. At Skills, we focused on growing our partnerships, scaling our services across Chicago and nationally, and deepening our investment in closing the opportunity gap.
Browse our 2021 Annual Impact Report for metrics, program overviews, and success stories featuring job seekers, employers, and community partners.
-
Dear Supporters, Partners, and Friends:
Upon completing our ninth year, it's important to reflect on the impact jobs have had on unemployed and underemployed individuals and communities across the Chicagoland area. Together, we have achieved significant new milestones this year. Our dedicated team has helped more than 9,500 job seekers secure employment since our founding in 2012, with 70% of those candidates residing in the South and West Side neighborhoods. We have expanded our local neighborhood reach by opening our first Skills Neighborhood Link office in Englewood this past summer. With the pro bono consulting support of EY, we created our new 3-year strategic plan which calls for us to place an additional 4,500 Chicagoans into jobs while investing in technology and innovation. Additionally, we launched a $10 million fundraising campaign to expand nationally.
Now, more than ever, employers must commit to hiring a more diverse workforce and seeking talent in new places. These are the fastest ways to level the economic playing field, especially in Chicago’s underinvested communities. While we are making great strides, until job equity and inclusive hiring are the ‘norms,’ there is still much work to do.
On behalf of Skills for Chicagoland’s Future and our Board of Directors, thank you for joining us to celebrate another year of successful partnership with employers and community leaders.
The time for action is now. The pandemic continues to spotlight socioeconomic disparities, but economic equity is within sight if we all work together. Hire, donate, or volunteer at Skills for Chicagoland’s Future in 2022.
We look forward to expanding and strengthening our partnerships and impact in 2022 and beyond.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Marie Trzupek Lynch
Founding President and CEO
How We Work
We know the workforce “skills gap” is an access gap, so we flip the traditional workforce development model and start with the job. Working with our network of employer partners, we identify long-term hiring needs and connect unemployed and underemployed talent directly to open roles. We reduce barriers to employment and impact economic mobility in Chicago’s historically underinvested communities by working with our hiring partners to eliminate barriers that disqualify candidates unnecessarily.
The War for Talent
As the COVID-19 pandemic surged and declined multiple times in 2021, the labor market was also unpredictable. Business demand for hiring increased across nearly all industries as the local economy recovered in the spring but struggles retaining and attracting talent persisted. A combination of talent opting out of the workforce due to more complex issues like caregiving responsibilities and health concerns paired with workers taking advantage of businesses offering higher wages and incentives created a very competitive market for hiring talent.
8 Months saw record quit rates
+10M available jobs for four consecutive months
+5.4% increase in pay for job switchers YOY, biggest increase in nearly 20 years
46% of unemployed U.S. men have criminal convictions
2x unemployment rate for African American job seekers compared to the White rate
+2.3% higher unemployment rate for those with only a HS diploma compared to Bachelor’s degree or higher
On September 9, the Chicago Tribune published an op-ed by Skills CEO Marie Trzupek Lynch. In, “The ‘war for talent’ among Chicago companies: A survival guide,” she shared with the local business community what we’d been discussing internally and with our employer partners:
- Companies had to be more creative and responsive with their compensation and benefits packages.
- Flexible workspaces — whether hybrid or fully remote — will be a fixture long after COVID. Employers need to rethink their requirements for a physical presence.
- Corporate Social Responsibility will be a driving factor in the decision to accept a role. Workers want to be part of a company that shares their values and will stand up for them.
- An intentional focus on inclusive hiring is essential as a business and moral imperative.
-
8 Months saw record quit rates
+10M available jobs for four consecutive months
+5.4% increase in pay for job switchers YOY, biggest increase in nearly 20 years
-
46% of unemployed U.S. men have criminal convictions
2x unemployment rate for African American job seekers compared to the White rate
+2.3% higher unemployment rate for those with only a HS diploma compared to Bachelor’s degree or higher
-
On September 9, the Chicago Tribune published an op-ed by Skills CEO Marie Trzupek Lynch. In, “The ‘war for talent’ among Chicago companies: A survival guide,” she shared with the local business community what we’d been discussing internally and with our employer partners:
- Companies had to be more creative and responsive with their compensation and benefits packages.
- Flexible workspaces — whether hybrid or fully remote — will be a fixture long after COVID. Employers need to rethink their requirements for a physical presence.
- Corporate Social Responsibility will be a driving factor in the decision to accept a role. Workers want to be part of a company that shares their values and will stand up for them.
- An intentional focus on inclusive hiring is essential as a business and moral imperative.
Reducing barriers to employment and focusing on often overlooked pools of talent will reshape the employment landscape and create equitable opportunities for jobs for everyone seeking employment.
2021 Placements
Last year, the Skills team served 12,000+ local job seekers through application screening, hiring events, community partner referrals, and our career development programs. Below is a demographic snapshot of the local talent we placed into quality jobs with leading local and national companies committed to inclusive hiring by reducing barriers to employment.
1,185
job seekers placed into roles by Skills
74%
of placements identify as female
42%
of placements are 24 or younger
26 & 29
average and median candidate age
47%
of candidates list their highest education level as High School diploma or GED
80%
of candidates are African American or Black
12%
of candidates are Hispanic or Latinx
96%
of candidates are BIPOC
Industry Insights
We partner with companies committed to inclusive hiring in a variety of industries and are focused on diversifying the roles offered to local talent. Our top roles and job types for 2021 were:
- Customer Service/Call Center Representatives
- Finance/Banking Professionals
- Drivers
- Housekeeping Assistants
- Hospital Support Staff
- Insurance Specialists
- Retail Clerks & Cashiers
39%
of placements in retail
21%
of placements in financial services
16%
of placements in healthcare
10%
of placements in business services
9%
of placements in TDL & manufacturing
3%
of placements in food services
Our Work in Action
Despite variants and surges prolonging the pandemic, 2021 saw the return of in-person work as we adopted a hybrid model and hosted job fairs and hiring events in our Loop and Englewood offices alongside community and hiring partners.
Customer Service & Finance Job Fair
September 14, 2021
Local talent joined Skills & the CBO Collective in the Loop to hear about opportunities with Amazon, Chase Bank, Discover, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Wintrust, and more.
Retail Hiring Fair
November 9, 2021
Recruiters from Jewel-Osco, Walgreens, Walmart, Ulta Beauty, and Chicago Public Schools were on hand to interview and make same-day job offers! Our CBO partners were in attendance to provide additional resources to job seekers.
South Side Job Fair
July 15, 2021
We opened our Skills Neighborhood Link location in Englewood with an event featuring job opportunities on the South Side through Discover, Divvy Bikes, Ferrara Candy, UChicago Medicine, Ulta Beauty, Walgreens, and Walmart.
Delivering More than a Job
Our Career Access programs develop a long-term workforce by connecting local talent to quality jobs that increase economic mobility through coaching, mentoring, professional development, and educational opportunities.
Career Navigator
As COVID-19 disrupted industries and job seekers reevaluated their priorities, we launched the Career Navigator. This virtual program introduced participants to new pathways through info sessions, career readiness trainings and mock interviews, and mentorship. At the end of the program, candidates were given four possible directions to take: direct placement with BMO Harris Bank, the program's funding partner; continued education through a certificate or City College program; entry into one of Skills' Pivot to Success programs; or additional career readiness training with a Skills CBO partner.
Success Story: Mariah, a program participant referred to Skills from our partners at IDES, opted to continue her journey through direct employment with BMO Harris Bank. She is learning the ins and outs of the banking industry while building on her retail experience. "Not only did I gain a job, but also life skills I can keep applying. I've started working on my business that I'm trying to open up right now, so BMO's actually put me in alignment with my life purpose. During the Skills program, we made a roadmap. So to me, I feel like I'm completing my life goals."
College to Career
Skills launched this youth program to support recent college graduates ages 24 and under by acting as a professional network. In its second year, we hit our goals by connecting 40 job seekers with quality jobs at area employers. The program faced unique challenges in 2021: the turbulent "war for talent" relaxed degree requirements for demand-driven jobs; and companies struggled to predict their human resources needs, structure their DEI approaches, and align with job-ready candidates emerging from local colleges or working with our CBO partners.
Success Story: Jelanchea had been working in maintenance while she finished her bachelor’s degree. When the pandemic hit, she was laid off, but with two small children, she had to be employed. After a series of temp jobs, she found out about Skills’ College to Career program through our weekly Hot Jobs newsletter. She interviewed for the Program Coordinator role at GoHealth and began her new role in June. The culture has been very supportive and inclusive, and Jelnachea feels well-trained and invested in. She’s in a position to grow with a company that wants her to succeed.
Jobs 101
Our job and career readiness training youth program focused on helping candidates identify opportunities and land the job, experience workplace success, and build on personal and professional competencies. Our team provided resume training, one-on-one coaching, LinkedIn profile consulting, and mock interviews.
Measuring Impact: In 2021, we trained 326 young adults from seven CBO partners: Atlas, Christ the King, My Block My Hood My City, Mercy Home, CRED, StoryCatchers, and Utmost University. We also partnered with six employers: BMO Harris Bank, Chase Bank, McDonald's, Rush University Medical Center, UChicago Medicine, and Walgreens.
Pivot to Success
Partnering with leading local companies to develop career pathways through coaching, mentoring, and educational opportunities for young professionals, the Pivot to Success program impacts young adults looking for more than an entry-level job. Twenty-seven youth were placed into employment: all were BIPOC, 81% were women, and 83% are residents of South and West Side neighborhoods.
Success Story: A referral from the Paul Simon Job Corps, Quinton was hired in April 2021 as a Pharmacy Technician at Walgreens. Within six months of hire, he passed his Certified Pharmacy Technicians exam to become officially certified and promoted into a full-time Pharmacy Tech position. During that time, Quinton supported his cohort members at Walgreens by helping them study course material in his free time.
Going Local
In July, we opened the doors to our first Skills Neighborhood Link location, co-located with the Greater Englewood Community Development Corporation at 815 W. 63rd St. Our Englewood office serves as a hub for employers, job seekers, and the community at large. To date, we’ve held job fairs, meetings with funders and partners, and appointments for local candidates to meet with our Talent Acquisition team.
Over 70% of our placements are local talent from Chicago's South and West Side neighborhoods:
55%
placements from the South Side
21%
placements from the West Side
Top Placement Neighborhoods
1. South Shore
2. Austin
3. Chatham
4. Auburn Gresham
5. Greater Grand Crossing
6. North Lawndale
7. Roseland
8. Near West Side
9. West Englewood
10. Englewood
Candidate Success Stories
Malaya L.
Teller, BMO Harris Bank
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Malaya and her best friend shared a goal to find jobs together. But when her best friend tragically passed away in November 2020, Malaya was left feeling lost and unmotivated. She signed up for our Career Navigator program with BMO Harris Bank, received interview guidance and support from her Skills recruiter, and was paired with a professional mentor.
In May 2021, Malaya received a job offer for a bank teller role at BMO Harris Bank.
"Thank you so much for giving a chance to a girl that felt lost. Being from where I'm from, I know the youth can really grow and find positive aspects in life with this type of program. I get inspiration from everything BMO has to offer."
Eduardo N.
Store Manager Trainee, Jewel-Osco
While attending the University of Illinois, Eddie also served in the Illinois Army National Guard. When his military contract expired, he was working part-time at a bank. Then the pandemic hit, and he needed more security. Through Skills, he joined the Store Manager Training program at Jewel-Osco.
"Growing up, Jewel was the grocery store to go to. I always wanted to see how it's run, and now I get to be behind the scenes. With the pandemic, I realized just how important grocery stores are. I see customers come in and meet up with friends they haven't seen in a while. As an essential worker, it feels good to have a guaranteed job, and I love getting to meet different people every day. It feels good knowing I provide something for society that's beneficial."
Theodore B.
Associate Banker, Chase Bank
Born and bred Chicagoan Theodore was self-employed most of his life. But the cost of owning a business, the desire to spend time with family, and the financial and social upheaval caused by the pandemic led him to look for a job that was flexible, stable, and closer to home. His search led him to Skills and our hiring partners at Chase.
“I was impressed that Skills saw the South Side as a market for talent. The problem with under-resourced areas is that no one takes time to engage those areas for talent. The community members have to leave the community to find ways to use their talent. When I heard about your work in Chatham, it impressed me. I've even given people that I know access to the Skills website.”
James C.
Referral Specialist, AIM Specialty Health
"I was amazed Peter remembered me, and I was thrilled about the position with AIM. It was everything I was looking for."
After almost 25 years in customer service, James found himself out of work. He connected with Skills shortly before the pandemic struck, slowing down his job search. But he made a strong impression on our recruiter, and a year later, we reached out and connected him with a new role at AIM Specialty Health. James was impressed with how Skills stepped in, provided the necessary supports and filled in the gaps to make the process of getting hired at AIM as smooth as possible.
Increase N.
Nurse Support Assistant, UChicago Medicine
Originally from Nigeria, Increase moved to Chicago with her family in 2018. As the eldest of three siblings, she feels a responsibility to support them. Back home and in Chicago, she worked in daycare but left the industry at the start of the pandemic.
While working part-time in Patient Transport at UCM, Increase joined our Career Navigator program. "I'm so thrilled I applied. It taught us how to be team workers and team leaders." She enrolled in UCM's Career Pathways program and completed an 8-week Basic Nursing Aide course at Malcolm X College. By the end of 2021, she was hired into a full-time clinical role, fulfilling her dream of working in nursing.
Brendan C.
Morningstar Development Program
When Brendan graduated in May 2021, he found himself in a hyper-competitive job market for recent grads. He earned a BA economics and finance, and he was open to experiences that would let him explore diverse business functions. But finding a job proved challenging— he got some initial interviews and no offers. And eventually, he stopped getting interviews altogether.
Not one to get discouraged, Brendan regrouped. He revamped his resume and applied for a Financial Analyst role through Skills. He wasn't the right fit for that position, but a month later, a recruiter reached out with a seemingly perfect opportunity: Morningstar's Development Program. In December 2021, Brendan joined a cohort of young professionals training in different departments and growing their careers in finance.
"I like this program because it opens doors and isn't a narrow path. And I like working with so many different people with different backgrounds and skillsets. It will contribute to my professional development."
Employer Spotlights
We placed 133 candidates into jobs at Walgreens through direct hiring in 2021—more than in the previous seven years combined. Our close working partnership allowed us to rethink our recruitment and submittal processes in 2021, reducing our time to fill roles by nearly half year over year.
Walgreens also funded and participated in our Pivot to Success program through their Pharmacy Technician career pathways.
Our partners made headlines in 2021 for their focus on DEI at the highest levels; they hired Roz Brewer as CEO in March , one of only two Black women CEOs across Fortune 500 companies.
One of the newest members in our employer network, Walmart quickly became one of our top companies for placements. In 2021, 134 local candidates were matched to quality jobs as Walmart transitioned most part-time retail associate roles into full-time status to grant access to healthcare and other benefits.
In June, they broke ground on the Walmart Academy training facility on the South Side, focused on HVAC and other technical skills. The academy is slated to open March 2022.
Walmart also supports Skills for America's Future, our national expansion initiative. They invested $500,000 toward our $10 million campaign to bring the Skills model to 25 cities in 10 years.
Roles in banking and finance grew in popularity among our job seekers in 2021 as many employers increased starting wages and made benefits more widely available. Our hiring partners at BMO Harris Bank deepened their commitment to local talent by participating in our Career Navigator program, designed to help participants develop personally and professionally through volunteer mentorships.
Through our direct hiring and career pathways programming, 18 candidates were placed into quality financial services jobs in 2021.
In 2021, BMO Harris Bank was named by Forbes as one of the Best Employers for Diversity for the third straight year, and they were recognized by Bloomberg's Gender-Equality Index for the sixth year in a row.
Our 2021 Employer Network
Neighborhood Impact Consulting
As part of Discover’s expansion plans, Skills met with their stakeholders to explore supporting their presence in a South or West Side neighborhood of Chicago, historically disinvested communities often overlooked for corporate jobs. This neighborhood impact initiative will welcome 1,000 employees from the surrounding area by the end of 2024.
Our teams worked in seven key project areas with a focus on Site Selection, Community Engagement, and Human Resources strategy. We also leveraged key partnerships with the City of Chicago, World Business Chicago, and CBRE.
In June 2021, Discover opened its first customer care center in 20 years, located in Chatham on the South Side. With 81% of the staff residing inside five miles of the facility, Discover is making good on its promise to hire locally, impact the quality of life of its team, and invest in the community.
At its 100-day mark, the Chatham customer care center had received top customer satisfaction scores.
Learn MoreAs the first workforce development partnership nationally for America’s second-largest employer (in revenue), we began working with Amazon in the spring of 2021, supporting their new facility at University Park. We leveraged our network of community-based organizations (CBO) to connect Amazon with Warehouse Associate candidates in the Southland.
In the summer, we grew our partnership to support the launches of Amazon’s new fulfillment centers in Markham and Matteson, in South Suburban Cook County. The sites opened in October, but the Skills team was hard at work since August promoting opportunities in the area to community partners and job seekers.
In the first year, our work with Amazon has grown to include recruitment marketing and community outreach to help fill Warehouse Associate and Workforce Staffing roles across Chicago and the suburbs.
Community Partnerships
Our Community & Strategic Partnerships team dedicated their efforts in 2021 to deepening our engagement with our network of local workforce partners and generating more efficient and effective candidate journeys. While our number of referrals decreased year over year, the number of candidates hired increased. We continue to optimize our approach and processes to better support our partner organizations and serve local talent.
2021 Highlights:
- YOY increase of 6% in placements despite a decrease in referrals, signaling improved communication of candidate requirements to organizations and job seekers
- Submittal-to-hire rates for CBO referrals increased to 40% (from 32% in 2020)
- Despite the global pandemic, opened the Englewood office in a hybrid setting
- July Job Fair
- November Hiring Fair
- Community Engagement events with Englewood partners and our employers
- Secured a shared $25,000 investment with two local partners to help close the digital divide in Englewood
-
Above and Beyond Arrupe College of Loyola University Association House By the Hand The Boulevard Cara Chicago Centers for Changing Lives Centers for New Horizons Chicago Scholars Chicago State University DuPage Pads Free Lunch Greater West Town Project Greater Englewood CDC Growing Home, Inc. Heartland Alliance Housing Forward Housing Opportunities for Women IDHS Instituto del Progreso Latino La Casa Norte Lift Lyte Collective MAAFA Redemption Project Mercy Home Mercy Housing Metropolitan Family Services Moraine Valley Community College My Block, My Hood, My City National Louis University New Life Covenant Noble Network North Lawndale College Prep North Lawndale Employment Network Of Color INC. One on One POAH Phalanx Family Services Roosevelt University St. Augustine St. Sabina ERC The Community Builders UCAN Urban Alliance Youth Guidance YWCA
Our Focus on DEI
In 2021, we moved from an inherent to an intentional approach to diversity, equity & inclusion at Skills, making a concerted effort to weave DEI into three main pillars: the quality and diversity of jobs we offer candidates, how we communicate our work internally and externally, and making space for our team to bring their full selves to work.
Job Quality
-
Workstream developed as part of our Strategic Plan
-
Intentional work with employers to support emerging DEI practices
-
Focusing on employers that have an explicit position related to DEI and are showing positive movement
Our Platform
-
Engaged Rudd Resources in a new messaging framework to be more mindful of how we express ourselves to different audiences and welcome diverse voices
-
Launched a new website that leveraged a refreshed organizational voice, more images of the communities we serve, and content with a focus on culture and service
Voices of Our Staff
-
Hosted 19 staff-led cultural & historical events across 17 cultural days and months
-
Hosted three all-staff workshops on race, ethnicity & bias led by Dr. Joseph Flynn
-
Partnered with community stakeholders on events
-
Facilitated safe spaces for staff discussion through focus groups
-
Increased staff engagement and support for VOS subcommittees
Our Strategic Plan
Our North Star: To increase the economic mobility of under- and unemployed talent by connecting them to quality jobs through our deep partnership and understanding of the unique human capital needs of our network of engaged employers.
Over the next three years, we've committed to 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 opportunity.
Scale demand-driven programs focused on placing unemployed South and West Side talent into jobs.
70% growth: from 1,000 to 1,700 yearly job placements
South & West Side pledge: impact 75%+ job seekers from these historically underserved neighborhoods via three office locations
Reaffirm our commitment: with 92% BIPOC placements (up from 90%)
Intentionally diversify job types & business clients, and expand career pathways.
Career potential: expand on best-in-class entry-level roles with career pathway opportunities
Increase opportunities: continue expansion into middle-skill & middle-income opportunities
DE&I: increase partnerships with companies demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion
Educate & advocate: counsel hiring partners on qualifying vs. disqualifying local talent
Grow our Neighborhood Impact Consulting services to help companies expand or relocate their operations
Drive innovation of services by formalizing an R&D and data insights function
Build a hub: centralize approaches and processes in an innovation hub
Innovative Programming: research and develop cutting-edge programming
Continuous learning: publish data insights and conduct evaluations
Workforce Policy & Advocacy: to employer partners and government
Thought Partnership & Leadership: collaborate with CBOs and provide subject matter expertise
-
Scale demand-driven programs focused on placing unemployed South and West Side talent into jobs.
70% growth: from 1,000 to 1,700 yearly job placements
South & West Side pledge: impact 75%+ job seekers from these historically underserved neighborhoods via three office locations
Reaffirm our commitment: with 92% BIPOC placements (up from 90%)
-
Intentionally diversify job types & business clients, and expand career pathways.
Career potential: expand on best-in-class entry-level roles with career pathway opportunitiesIncrease opportunities: continue expansion into middle-skill & middle-income opportunities
DE&I: increase partnerships with companies demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion
Educate & advocate: counsel hiring partners on qualifying vs. disqualifying local talent
Grow our Neighborhood Impact Consulting services to help companies expand or relocate their operations
-
Drive innovation of services by formalizing an R&D and data insights function
Build a hub: centralize approaches and processes in an innovation hubInnovative Programming: research and develop cutting-edge programming
Continuous learning: publish data insights and conduct evaluations
Workforce Policy & Advocacy: to employer partners and government
Thought Partnership & Leadership: collaborate with CBOs and provide subject matter expertise
Celebrating Our Impact
On October 5th, 2021, we hosted our seventh annual Employment Champions Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Once again in person with over 300 guests, we honored our partners, heard from industry thought leaders, and cheered on the hard work of our job seekers.
Experience the event by watching the full recording of the morning’s festivities.
2021 Employment Champions Breakfast Awardees
Champion for the Unemployed
Advocate for the Unemployed
Champion for Community Impact
Shining bright in Chatham
Brock is a native South Sider hailing from Auburn Gresham—just a short distance from Discover’s brand-new customer care center in Chatham. After two years away at college, Brock came home after his grandmother passed away. He needed a job with economic and career mobility.
A former coworker told him about new jobs at Discover. “It sounded great, but was it real? Full-time, well-paying jobs in Chatham? Typically, jobs like that are in the Loop or the suburbs, not on the South Side. But this was different.”
Since joining Discover, Brock can see his future opening up, with opportunities to become a team lead, a manager, and then learning all aspects of the business. He can picture going back to school and finishing his degree. “Then owning my own business so I can bring more jobs to my community, and with them, generational wealth to Chicago’s Black families.”
“Thank you Discover for seeing the value in me and Chatham.”
At the Forefront in Hyde Park
Loretta was tired of living paycheck to paycheck as a retirement home aide.
After years of applying to jobs, never receiving a response, a work errand at UChicago Medicine led a colleague to tell her about Skills. Working with our team, Loretta joined UCM as a Patient Transport Specialist.
“It was such a blessing to get that big break. With my foot in the door, I was determined to take every opportunity to continue moving up. When I learned about UCM’s Career Pathway program, I immediately jumped at the chance.”
After earning her Patient Care Tech license, Loretta is now a full-time nursing support assistant. Thanks to Skills and UCM, she has the financial security to provide for her three sons: she’s a first-time home-buyer and even bought her first-ever brand-new car!
Closing the Opportunity Gap
Dr. Annelies Goger is the David M. Rubenstein Fellow of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution. She's an economic geographer developing innovative policy solutions to address rising inequality and increase economic opportunity.
Her work challenges the dominant "skills gap" narrative, arguing that building stronger education and labor market institutions, and making long-term investments in talent development, are key to addressing racial and gender inequities in the labor market.
The featured speaker at our 7th Annual Employment Champions Breakfast, Dr. Goger delivered a presentation on "Accelerating the Path to Economic Equity: The Case for Closing the Opportunity Gap" to our 500 live and virtual attendees.
Premier Sponsors
Presenting Sponsors
Advocate Sponsors
Supporter Sponsors
Accenture | AIM Specialty Health | Alight Solutions | Amazon | ARCO/Murray |
Ariel Investments | AT&T | BMO Harris Bank | Michelle Carlin | Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. |
The Chez Family Foundation | CNO Financial Group | Deloitte | DLA Piper | Exelon |
Rich Floersch | GoHealth | HUB International | Ingredion | James Hardie |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | McKinsey & Company | MetLife | Midway Partnerships | NorthShore University HealthSystem |
Polk Bros. Foundation | Pritzker Traubert Foundation | Rush University Systems for Health | Michael D. Scimo Family | UChicago Medicine & University of Chicago |
Walmart |
Partner Sponsors
Abbvie | American Airlines | Associated Bank | Boston Consulting Group | CBRE |
The Chicago Community Trust | Brian & Mary Faith Cook | Divvy Bikes | Dot Foods | Ferrara Candy Company |
Freedman Seating Company | Grainger | David Hiller | Mark & Pam Kendall | Kin + Carta |
Korn Ferry | Lenovo | Mondelez International | Northwestern Medicine | ORBA |
Perella Weinberg Partners | Shaker Recruitment Marketing | Slayton Search Partners | Sterling Bay | Glenn Tilton |
TrueBlue Outsourcing Solutions | Voya Financial | Wanxiang Group | Willis Towers Watson |
Impact Beyond Chicago
National Expansion
In August, we announced a $10 million fundraising campaign to support Skills for America’s Future, our national expansion initiative. Our goal is to bring the Skills model to a total of 25 sites in 10 years. Seed funding totaled $1 million, led by a $500,000 investment and a $250,000 matching challenge from Skills Board Chair Mark Hoplamazian and his wife, Rachel Kohler. Other early funders included the Stand Together Foundation, Dennis and Joan Berger, and the Economic Opportunity Challenge.
In November, we held a series of webinars alongside a request for partnerships. Community organizations and employers working across the country joined our virtual sessions to learn about our unique jobs-first approach and the benefits of joining the Skills network.
We received nine RFP submissions, and we’re focused on selecting or launching 4 new Skills sites over the next year. Our team will provide seed grants and staff resources to launch each site and partner with key stakeholders to adapt to the local needs and culture of each workforce ecosystem.
Skills for Rhode Island's Future
A leading resource for Rhode Islander's looking for work, Skills for Rhode Island's Future continues to increase their local impact as they enter their seventh year. Learn more about Skills for Rhode Island's Future.
1647
job seekers placed into roles
177
individuals in Real Jobs RI skills training program
86
individuals completed Ready Set Work program
185
candidates received job coaching
63
candidates served by workAbility program for individuals with disabilities
170
employer partners
Corporate, Foundation & Government Funders
-
City of Chicago Department of Family & Support Services
The Community Focus Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation
Google
JPMorgan Chase
Walmart & Walmart Foundation
-
Amazon
Anonymous
International Youth Foundation
McCaffery Inc.
McDonald's
Motorola Solutions & Motorola Solutions Foundation
Pritzker Traubert Foundation
Stand Together Foundation
World Business Chicago
-
BDT & Company, LLC
BMO Harris Bank
Chicago Fire
Crown Family Philanthropies
Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
Hyatt Hotels
Paul M. Angell Family Foundation
Polk Bros. Foundation
Telligen Community Initiative
-
Anonymous
Accenture
Allstate
Aon Hewitt
AT&T
Bank of America Foundation
Cariloop
CDW
Discover
Ernst & Young
Exelon
Finnegan Family Foundation
GCM Grosvenor
HUB International
Jewel-Osco
Latham & Watkins
Margot & Thomas Pritzker Family Foundation
Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation
Rensair
Suffolk
The John & Rita Canning Family Foundation
UL - Underwriters Laboratories
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
Walgreens
-
AIM Specialty Health
Alight Solutions
ARCO/Murray
Ariel Capital Investments
Challenger, Gray, and Christmas
Chez Family Foundation
CNO Financial Group
Deloitte
DLA Piper LLP
The Duchossois Family Foundation
The Edgewater Funds
GoHealth
Health Care Service Corporation
HMS Host Incorporated
Ingredion Incorporated
ITW Foundation
James Hardie Industries
KPMG
McKinsey & Company, Inc.
MetLife
Morningstar
NorthShore University HealthSystem
PWC
Rush University Medical Center
Russell Reynolds Associates
SupplyHive
UKG
Ulta Beauty
University of Chicago Medicine & University of Chicago
Vantage - Midway Partnerships
Wintrust
-
Anonymous
AbbVie
American Airlines
Associated Bank
Boston Consulting Group
CBRE
Divvy (Motivate)
Dot Foods
Ferrara Candy Company
Huntington National Bank
Kin + Carta
Korn Ferry
Lenovo
Mondelez International, Inc.
Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
Perella Weinberg Partners
Shaker Recruitment Marketing
Slayton Search Partners
Sterling Bay
TrueBlue
Voya Financial
W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Wanxiang America Real Estate
Willis Towers Watson
-
Keystone Partners LLC
Lockton
Manulife Investment Management
ORBA
Protiviti
The Executives Club of Chicago
University of Chicago
Unum
Wiley Education Services
Individual Donors
-
Mark Hoplamazian & Rachel Kohler
-
Anonymous
Dennis Berger
Rich Floersch
Joe Pomerenke
Nazneen Razi
Mike Scimo
Kathleen Wilson-Thompson
-
Amy Best
Hillary Bochniak
William Broderick
Joshua Chernoff
Gillian Darlow
Jack Delaney
Mary Dillon
Derek Douglas
Dawn Franke
Craig Freedman
Peter Herlihy
Joseph High
Gregory Horejs
William Krol
Elliot J Mata
John McGaw
Jason McLaughlin
Michael Meek
Eileen Mitchell
Malaika Myers
Chris Niedhammer
Linda Stephans
Michelle Warner
-
Lee Addams
Tinisha Agramonte
Colin Alesse
Michael Antonio
Ammar Bahrani
Nikki Barrett
B. John Bisio
Margaret Blyth
Aaron Bresinger
Carson Bricco
Jill Brown
Frank Burke
Ann Burke
Kathleen Caliento
Kathleen Carroll
Geetika Casmon
Daniel Cervantes
Michael Chiapetta
Kyle Clauss
Tabatha Cobb
Julia Davis
Laura Dunn
Susan Dunseth
Erica Eakins
Olivia Eveslage
Brian Fabes
Alicia Farley
Alison Gaw
Dena Giacometti
Kevin Golden
Maria Holmes
Margaret Hunn
Hannah Karzmer
Jonathan Kendall
Chris Kutsor
Nishanth Lavendra
Erin Mandel
Molly McCabe
Sean McCauley
Carter McHugh
Joseph Moawad
Brian Montgomery
Rachel Morgan
Kristin Mustari
Barbara Obregon
Andrea Palombit
Keisha Parker
Emily Pevnick
Monique Pinnock
Kirsten Powers
Angel Rodriguez
Scott Rogers
Lou Sandoval
Claudia Saran
Peter Sears
Joseph J. Shannon III
Eric Sheinkop
Ayom Siengo
Dan Smith-Cohen
Dan Spillane
Kristen Storey
Erica Tarantur
Yusuf Tayob
Christine Terborg
Jaclyn M. Trovato
Pamela Tully
Marc Ugol
Susan Wilson
Kinsey Wolf
Mona Yaeger
-
Mike and Cindy Bonds
Greg Q. Brown
Mark Kendall & Pam Kendall
-
Dick Arnoldy
Patrick Beharelle
Jeffrey Bilek
Carolyn Booth
Heidi Capozzi
Michele Carlin
John Challenger
Jeff Childs
Jeffrey Cook
Brian and Mary Faith Cook
Chris Corley
Andy Eichfeld & Nancy Crowe
Brad and Bryn Dannegger
Bevin Desmond
Melissa Donaldson
Yvonne Franzese
Mark Hacker
David Hiller
Elizabeth Hofstetter
Seema Kathuria
Sudi Bjornstad Korba
Hillary Leisten
Bill Luehrs
Marie & John Lynch
Kelly Manthey
Jordan and Leonidas Stellakis
Eric Stevenson
Glenn Tilton
Manika Turnbull
Keith Wyche
-
Ray Anderson
Daniel Argueta
Michael Botos
Jaimy Chadam
Margaret Egan
Geoff Ellis
Jeffrey Ficks
Cristen Forrester
Colm Hannon
Roger Hochschild
Arthur James
Matt Johanson
Don Johnson
Dan Joo
Khalid Khan
Katherine Kohatsu
Sholape Kolawole
Gregory Kucaj
Christopher Laux
Jennifer Limbocker
Bill Malczyk
Paul McDonough
Robert McGinnis
Gaston Messineo
Vaishak Mittur
Chris Myers
Saumil Parikh
Jennifer Pitts
Sridhar Prabhakaran
Elliot Rogers
Pari Sahai
Nihar Satapathy
Joseph Shannon IV
Matthew Shumacher
Samuel Shor
Evan Sussholz
Jonathan T. Swain
Rocco Tarasi
Chris Windfelder
Hye Yu
Matthew Zimpfer
-
Raheela Anwar
Henry Atkeson
Rabia Baig
Angela Bailey
Patricia Bandle
Shannon Bennett
Joseph Blasko
Jennifer Bloomquist
Allison Brigden
Tiffany Bush
Eric Charlson
Jacquelyn Christensen
Norman Clark
Kelley Clark
Michael Cohen
Amy Dordek Dolinsky
Shawn Domark
Ian Eickhoff
Fred Fedewa
MJ Forbes
Susan Freeman
Ugina Gardner
Adam Gay
David Gianfransesco
Annelies Goger
M.E. Granger
Reem Hanna
Elisia Harder
Andrew Hartman
Regina Hermann
Anthony Hernandez
Ruth Horbaczewski
Rebecca Hoving
Shammara Howell
Peter Hu
Kevin Irvine
Nicola Jacobs
Chirag Jatwani
Adel Johnson
Julie Katigan
Sang Kim
Kimberly Kocur
Tejus Kothari
NorahLarke
Jacob Letwat
Jenny Liechti
Lisa Maleck
Sandy Marek
Samir Mayekar
Rob McCloskey
Rob Morgan
Elizabeth Morrison
Mallory Moss
Michelle Newell
Kellie O'Connell
Vrajesh Parikh
Latonia Pearson
Elizabeth Rahill
Cynthia Risk
Tatiana Rivera
Eduardo Rocha
Eric Rozenzweig
Mark Sanders II
Maya Sanders
Michael Sawula
Brendan Scott
Ronald Seymore
Kate Hermann Stone
Jackie Synder
Judson Synder
Joyce Trzupek
Megan Van Poucke
Holli Wertheimer
Matthew Whitler
Eric Whobrey
D'Juan Wilcher
Julie Womack
Doris Young
Our Board of Directors
-
Mark S. Hoplamazian, Chair
President & Chief Executive Officer
Hyatt Hotels CorporationElizabeth Hofstetter, Vice Chair
Human Resources Business Partner Executive
JPMorgan ChaseMike Bonds, Treasurer
Former Executive Vice President
Retired from United AirlinesMarie Trzupek Lynch, President & CEO
Skills for Chicagoland's Future
Elizabeth Adefioye
Former Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
IngredionPatrick Beharelle
President & Chief Executive Officer
TrueBlue Outsourcing SolutionsDennis Berger
Chief Culture Officer
SuffolkAmy E. Best
SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer
Exelon CorporationJeff Bilek
Partner, Central Talent Leader
EYHillary Bochniak
Managing Director, Human Resources
AccentureCarolyn Booth
Head of Distribution, US Personal & Business Banking
BMO Harris BankHeidi Capozzi
EVP, Global Chief People Officer
McDonald'sJohn Challenger
Chief Executive Officer
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.Jeff Childs
Chief Human Resources Officer
Ulta BeautyChristina Corley
Chief Commercial & Operating Officer
CDWGillian Darlow
Chief Executive Officer
Polk Bros. FoundationMarcos DeLeon
SVP/Chief Human Resources Officer
Rush University System for HealthBevin Desmond
Head of Talent & Culture
HR Policy AssociationYvonne Franzese
Chief Human Resources Officer
CNO Financial Group, Inc.Craig Freedman
Chief Executive Officer
Freedman Seating Co.Mark Hacker
EVP, General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer
Motorola SolutionsSeema Kathuria
Managing Director
Russell ReynoldsMark Kendall
Executive Vice President
HUB InternationalSudi Bjornstad Korba
Vice President of Sales
Ultimate SoftwareHillary Leisten
Chief Human Resources Officer
WalgreensDennis Berger
Chief Culture Officer
SuffolkWilliam Luehrs
Former Chief Human Resources Officer
Retired from NorthShore University HealthSystemKelly Manthey
Group Chief Executive
Kin + Carta AmericasEileen Mitchell
President of AT&T Illinois
AT&TMalaika Myers
Chief Human Resources Officer
Hyatt Hotels CorporationSammy Patel
Vice President, Commercial
Vantage Airport Group;
CEO of Midway PartnershipRob Ritchie
Regional President—Mexico, U.S./Canada Sweetener Solutions, Industrial Solutions & Kerr Concentrates
IngredionClaudia Saran
Vice Chair of Culture
KPMG, LLPMike Scimo
Former Managing Director
Retired from AccentureEric Stevenson
Vice President, Human Resources
Jewel-OscoManika Turnbull, Ph.D.
SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer
Health Care Services CorporationKeith Wyche
Vice President, Community Engagement & Support
WalmartKenyatta Young
HR Business Partner
Facebook
2021 Financials
* Public funding includes federal COVID relief