This summer, 60 of our youth participated in jobs through the Chase Empowerment program. They were assigned to 5 different sites around the city to work on projects relating to environmental sustainability.
The youth participants had great opportunities to tackle real-world issues and develop concrete job skills. The program culminated in a business plan competition at Navy Pier, and one of Alternatives’ partners, Taj Development, organized the group that came in 2nd out of 25 competing teams!
Here is a brief summary of the projects for each of the 5 partner sites:
A Just Harvest
Mentor: Mr. John Hoekwater
Mr. Hoekwater is adapting the organization’s existing AGUA program. Youths will learn about aquaponics, a food production practice that combines traditional aquaculture with hydroponics.
Mr. Hoekwater will also include components of the organization’s Just BITES program, a business incubator centered on entrepreneurship and small business ownership.
Neighborhood: Rogers Park
Let’s Go Chicago
Mentor: Ms. Molly Costello
Ms. Costello is adapting the organization’s existing yard sharing network,
a series of partnerships between homeowners with underutilized land and growers looking for spaces to grow food. Youths will not only learn how to manage these spaces, but also take part in maintaining these relationships.
Neighborhood: Rogers Park
Loud Grade Produce Squad
Mentor: Ms. Maya Odim
Ms. Odimis in charge of the organization’s soap program. Youths will learn how to manufacture, test, and package organic soaps. In understanding this process, they will learn about laboratory safety, biodiesel, titrations, and composting. Additionally, youths will develop skills in marketing and inventory assessment.
Neighborhood: Uptown
Taj Development
Mentor: Ms. JoeAnn Mack & Roxanna Daniels
TAJ will introduce the youth to the process of home weatherization and real world construction consulting. The curriculum, extracted from Chicago’s already successful Urban Weatherization Initiative (UWI), focuses on applicable industry skills such as professional safety, project financing, and team organization.
Neighborhood: Englewood/Auburn-Gresham
Territory Urban Design
Mentor: Ms. Helen Slade
Ms. Slade will introduce the youths to design-based thinking and creative problem solving. They will develop architectural and urban design skills, such as identifying urban social-spatial problems, conducting research, developing design solutions, and constructing prototypes. This project had its own meeting with Mayor Emanuel, click here to read more.
Neighborhood: Argyle/Uptown
