Skills for Chicagoland's Future

Skills for Chicagoland's Future is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting unemployed and underemployed individuals with quality job opportunities. It fosters economic mobility in Chicago's historically underserved communities.

Established in 2012, the organization collaborates with a diverse network of over 130 employer partners across industries including manufacturing, healthcare, finance, retail, and hospitality.

Approach and Impact

The organization's approach starts by engaging directly with employers to understand their hiring needs, company culture, and long-term HR goals. This collaboration allows Skills for Chicagoland's Future to source and connect qualified candidates, especially from Chicago's South and West Sides.

It works to eliminate biases that often disqualify candidates unnecessarily, bridging the access gap and ensuring all job seekers have equal opportunities to secure meaningful employment.

Over the years, Skills for Chicagoland's Future has placed over 12,150 candidates into jobs with a total wage impact of $278.1 million. In 2023, 60% of placements were women and 88% were from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

Locations

Skills for Chicagoland's Future has expanded to multiple locations to enhance accessibility:

• Englewood
• North Lawndale
• Gage Park
• Loop office
• Skokie, IL, USA
• Oak Park, IL, USA
• Chicago, IL, USA
• Evanston, IL, USA
• Berwyn, IL, USA
• Cicero, IL, USA

Funding and Growth

In 2022, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott's foundation awarded a $5 million donation to Skills for Chicagoland's Future. This donation recognized the impactful work connecting overlooked talent with employers.

The contribution supports the mission to break down barriers to employment and expand the successful model nationally.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, the organization plans to expand its jobs-first workforce development model to 25 sites across the United States over the next decade. It aims to replicate its success in Chicago and Rhode Island.

To date, it has placed over 24,300 job seekers into meaningful employment and engaged with more than 270 employer partners.

Through its innovative approach and commitment to equity, Skills for Chicagoland's Future continues to drive economic mobility and foster a more inclusive workforce.