Genesys Works, a national social enterprise connecting businesses with emerging young professionals from underserved communities, announced it has received a grant for $75,000 from the Motorola Solutions Foundation, the charitable arm of Motorola Solutions. Through the grant, Genesys Works will support the technical and professional training of students at over 30 Chicago Public Schools in business operations and computer science, in addition to offering career and college guidance.

“This generous grant from the Motorola Solutions Foundation will allow us to support our 132 young professionals and alumni in paid internships during the 2021-2022 school year, and expand our impact in the 2022-2023 school year,” said Kim Nicholas, executive director of Genesys Works Chicago. “Support from organizations like the Motorola Solutions Foundation further enables our organization to create thriving economic communities for all.”

Genesys Works is a national nonprofit that provides high school students in underserved communities with pathways to career success through paid internships and skills training in information technology, accounting, and computer science. The organization launched the site in Chicago in 2010. Since then, the organization has served more than 1,000 students and has partnered with companies in Chicago like Accenture, CME Group, and TransUnion.

Each year, the Motorola Solutions Foundation awards grants to charitable organizations such as Genesys Works to support three primary areas of focus: first responder programming, technology and engineering education, and programs that blend the two. Within each area of focus, their grant program supports underrepresented populations, including women, people of color, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ community, veterans, and others.

“The Motorola Solutions Foundation aims to partner with organizations that align to our values of accountability, innovation, impact, diversity, and inclusion,” said Karem Perez, executive director of the Motorola Solutions Foundation. “We are proud to support organizations like Genesys Works that embody these values while driving positive change in their communities.” For additional information on the Motorola Solutions Foundation grants program, visit motorolasolutions.com/foundation.

• For additional information on the Motorola Solutions Foundation grants program, visit: motorolasolutions.com/foundation.
• For more information on Genesys Works please visit www.genesysworks.org/chicago.

About Genesys Works

Genesys Works provides pathways to career success for emerging young professionals in underserved communities starting their senior year in high school through skills training, meaningful work experiences, and impactful relationships. Our program consists of 8 weeks of technical and professional skills training, paid year-long internships with major companies, college and career coaching, and alumni support to acquire professional credentials and/or college. Our goal is to build career opportunity and economic equality in every community so that all people, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, have equitable access to career opportunities leading to sustained economic mobility. Since its founding in 2002, Genesys Works has grown to serve thousands of students annually in Houston, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington’s National Capital Region, and New York City, and are looking to expand rapidly into 100 cities in the next ten years. To learn more, visit genesysworks.org.

About the Motorola Solutions Foundation

As the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola Solutions, the Motorola Solutions Foundation partners with organizations around the globe to create safer cities and equitable, thriving communities. We focus on giving back through strategic grants, employee volunteerism, and other community investment initiatives. Our strategic grants program supports organizations that offer first responder programming and technology and engineering education, and align to our values of accountability, innovation, impact, diversity, and inclusion. The Foundation is one of the many ways in which the company lives out its purpose of helping people be their best in the moments that matter. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.motorolasolutions.com/foundation.