Employment For Ex Offenders

 

Under Mayor Daley the city of Chicago has developed a WorkNet partnership of organizations that are comitted to working with ex offenders and helping them get back in the workforce. Without a job many ex offenders will become new offenders so if you or someone you know could benefit from these services please contact the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development at  312-746-7777 or one of the following centers.

Career Advancement Network
20 E. Jackson, Suite 1500
312-356-9159 

Chicago Career Center
11004 S. Michigan
773-233-4364    

The CARA Program
703 W. Monroe
 312-798-3308 
 

Chicago Christian Industrial League
2750 W. Roosevelt
773-435-8424 

Chicago Federation of Labor
130 E. Randolph
312-565-9431 

Chicagoland Youth and Adult Training Center
6301 S. Halsted
773-783-0441 

Community Assistance Program
435 W. 119th
773-468-1993 

Goodwill Industries
2435-37 W. 63rd
773-863-6030 

Greater West Town Project
790 N. Milwaukee
312-432-1300  312

Heartland Alliance
1525 E. Hyde Park Blvd.
773-624-6148 

Howard Area Community Center
1623 W. Howard
773-262-3515 

Illinois Manufacturing Foundation
2101 S. Kedzie
773-277-2343 

Inspiration Corporation
4554 N. Broadway, Suite 207
773-878-0981 

3726 W. Flournoy
773-638-1825 

Phalanx
4628 W. Washington Blvd.
773-261-5800 

571 W. Jackson
312-922-2200 

St. Leonard’s Ministries
2100 W. Warren
312-738-1414 

St. Sabina/Catholic Bishop of Chicago
7909 S. Racine
773-783-3760 

Westside Health Authority
5816 W. Division St.
773-786-0226    

Woodlawn Preservation
6101 S. Evans
773-324-0619 

Programs for Women

   The Enterprising Kitchen
   4426 N. Ravenswood
   773-506-3880  773-506-3880  or
   1014 N. Hamlin
   773-342-88384 

-Erik

Bring In The New Year With A J.O.B.

What Is The Census And Why Should I Care?

The 2010 Census is fast approaching and the Government is looking for thousands of people across the country to help go out into the community to collect data. As you may know the Census only happens every 10 years dating back to 1790. It is used to gather demographic information across the country including Age, Race, and Social Status as well as total number of people in each area. This information will be used in several ways on the National and State level. Its results affect funding for communities, as well as other things like the total number of electoral votes a state may have in an election.

How Do I Get Some $$$  From The Census?

To sign up as a census data collector call Toll Free 1-866-861-2010 or contact your local Census office. Here is a list of the ones in the Chicago Area.

Joliet
Oneida Street
Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: 815-272-2660
Census takers start at: $16.00/hour

Lemont
North State Street
Lock Port, IL 60441
Phone: 815-221-4490
Census takers start at: $17.50/hour

Palatine
West Northwest Highway
Palatine, IL 60067
Phone: 847-221-1250
Census takers start at: $17.50/hour

DuPage
South Highland Ave
Lombard, IL 60148
Phone: 630-785-2920
Census takers start at: $17.50/hour

Vernon Hills
Lakeview Parkway
Vernon Hills, IL 60661
Phone: 847-613-6780
Census takers start at: $17.50/hour

Chicago Far North
North Lincoln Avenue
Skokie, IL 60077
Phone: 847-600-9020
Census takers start at: $18.25/hour

Chicago Northwest
West Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60641
Phone: 773-355-5810
Census takers start at: $18.25/hour

Chicago North
West Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
Phone: 773-598-1300
Census takers start at: $18.25/hour

Chicago West
West Arthington Street
Chicago, IL 60624
Phone: 773-446-1160
Census takers start at: $18.25/hour

Matteson
Holiday Drive
Matteson, IL 60443
Phone: 708-668-9730
Census takers start at: $17.50/hour

Chicago Far Southwest
South Cicero Avenue
Chicago, IL 60652
Phone: 773-627-5710
Census takers start at: $18.25/hour

Chicago Near South
North State Street
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-265-8680
Census takers start at: $18.25/hour

Chicago Center
North Canal Street
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-453-9060
Census takers start at: $18.25/hour

Chicago Far South
South Cottage Grove
Chicago, IL 60619
Phone: 773-896-9660
Census takers start at: $18.25/hour

Temporary Census workers can expect to work 20-40 hours a week mostly in evenings and weekends for 5-10 weeks.

Click here for more info

-Erik

Felons…Wave of the Future?!?!

Could this become the wave of the future?

Could hiring ex-felons be the answer to decreasing the crime rate here is Chicago? U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald seems to think so.  While reading the Chicago Sun times this morning I ran across a headline which read “Fitzgerald: Fight crime by hiring felons”.  I immediately was in shock and a tad bit confused but as I read the article and really thought about the issues, I became ecstatic at the idea.  I am a total proponent to this ideal.

Today alone, I read three articles involving teenage boys or girls being killed by gun violence.  This idea proposed by Fitzgerald could decrease gun violence dramatically if ex-felons and at-risk youth had a chance. Could you imagine ex-offenders leaving jail and actually having a legitimate chance to succeed in life instead of going back into an environment of drugs, and hopelessness?  What about imagining at-risk youth actually having something to do with their time, instead of hugging the blocks and getting into mischief in their neighborhoods?  I totally agree w/ Fitzgerald’s idea to decrease the crime/murder rate in Chicago by corporations hiring ex-offenders.

In doing so, ex-felons would actually have the opportunity to make something of themselves and provide for their families, instead of being restricted to minimum wage paying jobs that are scarce in the community.  This idea actually could rehabilitate, which is the goal of our prison system.  Also, allowing at-risk youth to gain working experience through internships would provide youth w/ structure, responsibility, not to mention quintessential tools necessary to succeed in the workplace.  At-risk youth in environments such as Englewood, North Lawndale, or Back of the Yards could actually gain desire to become business men and women because they would interact with these people daily.

For the full article, click here

- Ron

Need Job Training? Get It In Chicago!

Chicago Workforce Centers

The City of Chicago has 5 Workforce Centers for residents. These centers have a digital catalogue of both local and national job openings. They also offer presentations on resume writing and interviewing, as well as basic job training courses. Take advantage of the opportunity to be better prepared!

Chicago Workforce Center – Northside
4740 N. Sheridan
773-334-4747
TTY: 773-334-9804
Orientation: 9:00am – Monday through Thursday

Chicago Workforce Center – Garfield
10 S. Kedzie, Room 134
773-722-3885
TTY: 773-722-6081
Orientation: 9:00am – Monday through Thursday

Chicago Workforce Center – Pilsen
1657 S. Blue Island
312-243-5100
TTY: 312-738-0766
Orientation: 8:30am – Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Chicago Workforce Center – Mid-South
4314 S. Cottage Grove
773-538-5627
TTY: 773-538-8260
Orientation: 8:45am – Monday through Thursday

Chicago Workforce Center – Southwest
7500 S. Pulaski, Bldg 100
773-884-7000
TTY: 773-884-0269
Orientation: 8:30am – Monday through Thursday

for more info click here