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Jobs For Youth Partners with Chicago Businesses
CEO of CareerBuilder.com Matt Ferguson Speaks at the Inaugural Session
of Breakfast Leadership Forum Series
CHICAGO, IL. (October 12, 2005) – Jobs For Youth (JFY), Chicago’s largest non-profit dedicated to finding low-income youth employment, knows the importance of partnering with Chicago business. Jobs For Youth is moving forward with what they know best – the impact of Chicago’s youth and employment on the Chicago community – and starting a “Breakfast Leadership Forum Series”. hicago, IL (January 2003) Established in 1979 as the city's
leading non-profit organization devoted exclusively to helping
inner-city youth find employment, Jobs For Youth/Chicago,
Inc., is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Robert
W. Barnett as Executive Director.
" JFY’s desire with the series is to connect the business leaders of Chicago with JFY’s mission in hopes of creating mutually beneficial relationships. You know that businesses today demand both the hard and soft skills from their new employees. These are skills taught at JFY, free of charge, to any low-income 17-24 year old needing a job. Knowing that there is a market for businesses not yet familiar with the services and programs of JFY, Jobs For Youth, along with the CEO of CareerBuilder.com Matt Ferguson, will attract business leaders with the inaugural free “Breakfast Leadership Forum Series”.
Matt Ferguson’s topic for the Breakfast is “Diversity and the Bottom Line: Why Expanding Your Employee Demographics Is Critical to Your Business”. Diversity impacts every aspect of a company from how it is perceived to the overall business performance. Learn the most effective strategies for attracting and securing top diverse talent and find out what local companies are currently doing to make their diversity programs successful.
“As we begin building our Corporate Partnership Program, we hope to promote corporate social responsibility through a multi-level investment in JFY, increase the number of youths JFY is able to serve and expand training programs to better meet the needs of employers ," said Robert Barnett, Jobs For Youth’s Executive Director. “Aside from anything monetary provided to Jobs For Youth, Chicagoland’s business leaders like Matt Ferguson have donated their time to ensure the program delivers real life solutions for Chicago youth.”
Jobs For Youth is a program that assists young men and women from low-income families become a part of the economic mainstream; and, in the process, provide the business community with motivated, job-ready workers. The core program includes pre-employment training, career development, job placement, GED instruction and supportive services.
“In 2002, more than five million youth nationwide, between the ages of 16-and-24 years old, were reportedly out-of-school and jobless – with more than 100,000 in Chicago alone,” added Barnett. “As the job market rebounds it is important to continue to offer work readiness/life skills training, GED classes, career counseling and job placement services to help those that may not have access to these resources on their own.”
Last year, Jobs For Youth provided services to more than 2,200 youth and made 1,065 job placements, working with over 600 employers across Chicagoland. Additionally, the average wage in FY ’05 for Jobs For Youth graduates was $8.33/ hour. Illinois’ minimum wage is $6.25/ hour.
“We are acutely aware that there is a strong need for partnerships with area businesses and that it is directly linked to the well being of the communities we serve,” added Barnett. “So we aren’t simply just looking for employers to hire our clients. We want to create meaningful relationships.”
The Breakfast is on Wednesday, October 12 th from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. at the 410 Club in the Wrigley Building. The 410 Club is generously sponsoring and underwriting the Breakfast Series. For more information, please contact Barbara Olson, Corporate and Community Partnerships Director, at (312) 499-4778 x132 or bolson@jfychicago.org.
About Matt Ferguson
Matt Ferguson is the CEO of CareerBuilder.com, the nation's largest online job site with more than 20 million unique visitors and over 1 million jobs. Ferguson leads the daily operations and growth of the company, overseeing sales, finance, marketing, information technology, product development, integrated media, business development, customer care and human resources. Under Ferguson's leadership, CareerBuilder.com has risen to the number one position in online recruitment with the company outpacing the industry in traffic, job postings and revenue growth.
Ferguson is an employment expert who regularly appears on national TV and radio to discuss the state of the job market, hiring practices and workplace issues.
Ferguson first joined the company following CareerBuilder.com's acquisition of Headhunter.net, where he had been serving as senior vice president of business development. Prior to that, Ferguson developed strategic partnerships for DigitalWork.com. He also started two entrepreneurial ventures, and practiced law at Baker & McKenzie. Ferguson holds a master's in business administration from the University of Chicago and a law degree from Northwestern University. More information is available at www.careerbuilder.com.
About Jobs For Youth/Chicago, Inc.
Jobs For Youth/ Chicago, Inc. (JFY) helps young men and women from low-income families become a part of the economic mainstream; and, in the process, provides the business community with motivated job-ready workers. JFY offers pre-employment training, GED preparation and job placement services to youth that are between the ages of 17 and 24. Ninety-six percent of their clients are African American and Latino. Established in 1979, JFY has helped over 23,000 deserving youth enter the workforce. More information is available at www.jfychicago.org.
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