Chicago City Wire

The City of Chicago is celebrating the graduation of 31 trainees from the Greencorps Chicago program, a green job training program for individuals with barriers to employment. The nine-month long program, run by the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), provides extensive training and practical experience in ecological restoration, landscaping, tree care, carpentry, green infrastructure, and environmental health and safety, along with essential job readiness skills.

Chicago Mayor Johnson praised Greencorps Chicago for its efforts in empowering residents to create positive change in their lives and communities. The program focuses on workforce development for returning citizens and improving vacant lots in neighborhoods most affected by violence. Mayor Johnson extended his congratulations to the graduates, commending their hard work and dedication.

CDOT Acting Commissioner Tom Carney expressed pride in the impact that the Greencorps Chicago program has on the lives of Chicago residents. He highlighted the graduates' hard work both in the field and in the classroom, emphasizing their personal and professional growth.

Greencorps Chicago works with over 30 public and private sector partners to recruit participants, support job readiness, and provide professional certifications. Over its 29-year existence, the program has produced more than 650 graduates, with about 80 percent of them finding employment in the last five years. Industry partners also offer internships to trainees, providing additional experience that can lead to permanent jobs.

Trainees in the program learn about various topics such as horticulture, ecology, green infrastructure, tree care, and pesticide use in the classroom. They then apply these skills through field training while working on projects for the Chicago Park District, the Cook County Forest Preserves, City vacant lots, and Chicago City Colleges.

Some of the projects completed by Greencorps Chicago trainees this year include improving over 200 vacant lots on the south and west sides of Chicago in partnership with the Community Safety Coordination Center, as well as improving over 200 acres of natural habitat in the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Trainees also contribute to maintaining trails at Chicago parks across the city and landscaping at some of the City Colleges of Chicago.

Throughout their time with Greencorps, trainees receive support through wrap-around social services, mentoring, and professional coaching, which increases their ability to secure full-time employment upon completion of the training. The program also provides access to a placement coordinator who works with graduates to identify successful employment matches and provides post-placement follow-up.

Greencorps Chicago graduates have gone on to work at various organizations, including the Chicago Park District, ecological restoration companies, and the Cook County Forest Preserves.

In addition to the adult program, Greencorps also offers a summer program for youth and young adults. This program introduces Chicago public high school students to skills and service projects in sustainability fields such as bicycling, horticulture, ecological restoration, and tree care. This year, the Greencorps Chicago Youth Program had over 220 participants from eight Chicago Public Schools high schools on the south and west sides.

For more information about Greencorps Chicago and its programs, visit greencorpschicago.org.

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.chicago.gov/content/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/conservation_outreachgreenprograms/news/2023/december/city-of-chicago-celebrates-graduation-of-new-class-of-greencorps.html