August 23, 2013

Mayor Emanuel Celebrates Achievements of One Summer Chicago Students Participating in Civic Engagement and Passage Outreach Projects

Almost $300,000 Donation to One Summer Chicago Program Created 120 Jobs for Young Chicago Students, Adding to the More than 18,000 Youth Job Opportunities the Program Offers

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Mayor Rahm Emanuel attended a student showcase of community engagement and safe passage outreach projects through a $300,000 donation partially funded by JPMorgan Chase. This partnership added 120 jobs to the more than 18,000 previously announced job opportunities provided to young adults through One Summer Chicago. The 120 students involved in program worked on projects to improve the community and provided valuable information to local businesses and community members regarding Safe Passage routes.

“Safe passage isn’t just about a route home; it is about building a route to graduation, college and beyond for each and every student,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said.  “Strong private public private partnerships like this strengthen our public safety and civic engagement efforts while providing youth with the essential life skills that will serve their community today and their lives well into the future."

Chase contributed to fund this community-based program that engaged youth in civic leadership. Participating students worked with CAPS and the Safe Passage Program on educating businesses and residents along safe passage routes about the program. The students’ responsibilities included handing out placards for placement in local business’ and residents’ windows and strengthening relationships between the community and police officers.  Youth in the program also provided outreach on Chicago Parks programs and were responsible for creating and implementing a long-term program to improve their community.

"The Department of Family and Support Services proudly stands with our sister agencies and our community-based providers to assist the Safe Passage effort,” said Commissioner of DFSS Evelyn Diaz. “We want to ensure that our neighborhood children make it to and from their new schools successfully with their studies, and not their safety, on their minds."

On top of safe passage outreach, students participated in the Civic Leadership Foundation Curriculum, where they identified ways to improve their community and worked on a project to address these issues. At the culminating event the Mayor attended, students shared their projects with peers and community partners. In addition to providing the employment grant, Chase also included a financial literacy program for all One Summer Chicago participants.  Every young adult participating in One Summer Chicago will complete the curriculum. This work experience program combined with project-based learning provided ongoing opportunities for the participants to build and practice 21st century skills invaluable to their future success.

The program started on July 15th and its last day is today August 23rd, 2013. The City of Chicago and Chase partnered with non-profit organizations Leave No Vet Behind and ElevArte Community Studio to expand these employment opportunities to the neighborhoods of Austin, Humboldt Park, South Lawndale, North Lawndale, Pilsen, Little Village, South Shore, Roseland, Englewood and Great Grand Crossing neighborhoods.

The 120 youth jobs are part of One Summer Chicago, which gives young adults the opportunity to learn job skills, develop their resumes and explore various career interests. This program is a joint effort between the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the civic and business communities to provide summer programming to Chicago’s youths.

“Chase believes it has a fundamental responsibility to invest in its communities; helping to build the long-term success of local economies,” said Tom Finnegan, Head of Middle Market Banking in Illinois at Chase.  “We’re proud to bring our assets to bear and partner with innovative youth training and employment initiatives to better prepare our youth, provide opportunities for growth and personal development and help develop a workforce that is prepared to meet the future’s employment needs.”

The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) leads One Summer Chicago in partnership with participating agencies including Chicago Department of Transportation, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Housing Authority, After School Matters, Chicago Public Libraries, City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Chicago Police Department, Mayor’s Office of People with Disabilities, and Cook County Forest Preserve.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.4 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management and private equity. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about corporate responsibility at JPMorgan Chase, please visit www.jpmorganchase.com/corporateresponsibility.

 

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