Thomas E. Perez: 2016 Penny Pritzker Visionary Award Honoree
CDA: 2016 Advocate for the Unemployed Award Honoree
CDW: 2016 Champion for the Unemployed Award Honoree
Thomas E. Perez: 2016 Penny Pritzker Visionary Award Honoree
The Penny Pritzker Visionary Award is presented to an individual whose leadership has significantly and innovatively advanced the cause and mission of Skills, and is instrumental to its continued growth and success.
Skills for Chicagoland’s Future Board of Directors has selected Secretary Perez as the recipient of this year’s Visionary Award, in recognition of his support for Skills, his focus on demand-driven work, and his tireless championing of the unemployed. Secretary Perez’s advocacy for Skills has helped position the organization on a national platform, leading to Skills’ first expansion site in Rhode Island. Further, his continued focus on meeting workforce challenges, closing opportunity gaps, and addressing inequalities to ensure access to economic opportunity for all families are well aligned with the challenges facing communities across Chicagoland, and certainly with the families of the job seekers Skills serves each day.
During our inaugural event in 2015, this award was presented to Penny Pritzker, U.S. Secretary of Commerce & Founding Board Chair of Skills for Chicagoland’s Future; it was officially renamed in her honor.
CDA: 2016 Advocate for the Unemployed Award Honoree
The Advocate for the Unemployed Award is presented to a community or non-corporate partner that collaborates with Skills to drive results, serving as both an advocate for the unemployed and a champion of Skills.
The Chicago Department of Aviation demonstrates their commitment to Skills, and their advocacy for unemployed and underemployed residents of Chicago by opening their network through introductions to businesses, working collaboratively to develop innovative employment solutions, and providing significant multi-year funding. Since 2013, the Chicago Department of Aviation has brokered more than 30 introductions to employers at O’Hare Airport, many of which have become Skills most active employer partners. These partnerships have lead to more than 900 commitments to hire, and over 600 placements of unemployed and underemployed Chicago residents.
CDW: 2016 Champion for the Unemployed Award Honoree
The Champion for the Unemployed Awardis presented to an employer partner that demonstrates support for Skills by hiring the unemployed, providing pro bono and financial support, and serves as a corporate advocate.
CDW has facilitated a highly engaged partnership, and a multi-year commitment to supporting Skills’ by hiring the unemployed, serving on the Board of Directors, gifting significant in-kind donations of technology and training, and providing financial contributions. To date, CDW has contributed more than $160,000 in financial and in-kind support, hired close to 50 unemployed or underemployed job seekers from Skills, and has championed the mission of Skills throughout their Chicagoland offices.
