Mission

Chicago Jobs Council moves people out of poverty through employment using on-the-ground expertise, advocacy, and capacity-building. Our vision is that all people - regardless of where they start or where they've been - can access employment as a pathway out of poverty.

What We Do

The Chicago Jobs Council's primary areas of work are policy advocacy and capacity building focusing on individuals who are marginalized from mainstream employment, living in communities disproportionately experiencing poverty, unemployment and lack of access to transportation and other critical resources. Our major policy efforts focus on advocating for a continuum of education and training services that helps those with low skills find work and advance in the labor market, and reducing systemic barriers to employment experienced by people of color and women. Policy activities include: convening coalitions/partners; research and policy development; educating policy makers; and communications. Our capacity building efforts are conducted primarily through our training institute that works with community-based workforce providers and their staff to improve and expand employment strategies. Other capacity building activities include: communities of practice related to workforce best practices; research and new curriculum development; technical assistance to individual providers and special initiatives; and customized trainings.