Learning 21st-century Skills
During this time of uncertainty, our Young Professionals and corporate partners are finding the silver lining—using this as an opportunity to cultivate 21st-century work skills.
Armani (pictured) is among the Class 10 Young Professionals working remotely, supporting Litera Microsystems’ IT team in troubleshooting technology issues for other remote staff members.
“Although I miss the office a lot, being able to work from home has taught me a sense of independence and teamwork by staying focused and working alongside my team to fix issues so the company can continue to be efficient and prosper,” said Armani.
Extending Our Virtual Support
Our Program Team is working hard to ensure our Young Professionals continue to receive the support they need. Throughout April, we will host our College and Career Connection Classes (CCC) virtually.
During our April CCC sessions, our Young Professionals are focused on developing their “Year in Review” presentations about their year-long internships, reflecting on all they have learned and accomplished. Additionally, students receive coaching on loans, financial aid, and finding a college that is a good fit.
Class 11 Recruitment Update
750 Chicago Public School students applied to join Genesys Works’ Class of 2021, our 11th cohort of Young Professionals. To reduce the risk of travel and exposure to COVID-19, Genesys Works conducted over 250 virtual interviews last week.
We can’t wait to welcome the Class of 2021 in the coming weeks. Our staff is preparing so our incoming class can hit the ground running in our summer training, which will begin at the end of June.
Follow along with our Class of 2021’s journey through summer training on our social media sites (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram).
During these difficult times, we are especially grateful for our Genesys Works community. We are hard at work to meet the needs of our Young Professionals, our Corporate Partners, and the City of Chicago.
As our CEO, David Williams, writes in his response to this unprecedented time:
“When we think about the students we serve at Genesys Works, 81% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch. A sudden loss of income that can be an insurmountable challenge for them and their families. Our students weren’t away on a spring break trip when this pandemic hit. They were working in their internships while still going to high school. Their paychecks weren’t used to buy the latest iPhone or a new car. Their paychecks helped support their families.
As many parents face losing their paychecks, their child’s modest income becomes ever more critical to meet the most basic of needs.
To put this into perspective, 46% earn the same or more than at least one parent. They are working hard to change their future, to get on the path to upward economic mobility. The lack of opportunity for these young professionals could be the difference between having and not having a career. But it’s more essential than that. Because having and not having a career for these students can mean the difference between a life of adversity and breaking the cycle in order to achieve their full potential.” Continue reading here.
You have the power to help.
Every gift to Genesys Works empowers youth to reach the economic mainstream.
With your support, we can ensure that each young professional receives the support they need—now more than ever. Thank you for considering a gift to stand in solidarity with our students at this time.
