Youth Job Center

The Challenge:

Many young people—especially those from marginalized communities—struggle to access quality careers due to limited exposure, training, support, and opportunities. Without intentional support, these barriers prevent them from securing and sustaining living-wage employment that leads to long-term stability.

Our Solution:

YJC connects youth to meaningful careers through early exposure, workforce training, individualized coaching, and strong employer partnerships. We meet young people where they are and guide them toward living-wage jobs by equipping them with a plan, a path, and a job placement.

PROGRAMS

YJC’s program delivery model includes a youth-based community service center where young people are connected to a culture that reflects them and their needs. YJC’s programming consists of the following components:

In-School Workforce Programming: Youth Job Center serves youth during in-school workshops and events at schools throughout the Chicago area. YJC has long partnered with Evanston Township High School and is currently an official vendor for Chicago Public Schools. YJC is in the process of expanding our in-school partnerships to more communities in the Chicagoland area.

Career Optimization to Retain Employment (CORE): CORE is a workforce development strategy used at YJC to assist clients with career development and preparation. Career Coaches use a strengths-based model to assist clients in finding the pathway that meets the client’s needs and strengths. Clients learn workplace expectations, navigating workplace culture, and conflict resolution skills.

Workforce Readiness Training (WRT): WRT includes pre-employment essential skill development, financial coaching, retention support, and training for high school graduates and out-of-school youth.

Financial Opportunity Center (FOC): YJC helps young people improve their financial health by providing workshops in budgeting, saving, and credit building. Clients also work individually with the Financial Coach to help them achieve personal financial goals. Savings match programs are also available.

Employment Placement and Assistance: The Youth Job Center helps clients search for potential job opportunities, connect with employer partners, prepare for interviews, and find employment placement.

Career Pathways Program: is an integrated collection of programs intended to develop clients’ core academic, technical, and employability skills; provide them with continuous education, and training; and place them in high-demand, high-opportunity jobs. YJC’s Career Pathway programs include:

• Automotive Technology – YJC’s program is partnered with Olive-Harvey College. Clients can enroll in a YJC cohort to earn an Automotive Technology 101 certification.
• Information Technology – YJC is partnered with National Able Network to provide an IT certification program to our clients at American Job Center’s Pilsen location.
• Healthcare – YJC partners with the Chicago Community Learning Center on our Healthcare Career Pathway. Clients will become Certified Patient Care Technicians at the end of the course.
• Culinary Arts and Hospitality – YJC’s Culinary Arts program is a collaboration with Oakton Community College. Clients will learn the skills necessary to work in a professional kitchen.
• Choose Your Pathway – Clients seeking certifications in industries outside of YJC’s in-house offerings may enroll in individual courses and certification programs subsidized by YJC.