LeadersUp to put transportation, distribution & logistics careers within reach of Chicago's opportunity youth

CHICAGO, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LeadersUp announces its hiring event, Chicago Career 360 – The Experience, connecting job-ready young adults to careers in transportation, distribution and logistics (TDL), will take place May 23 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Lacuna Lofts, 2150 S. Canalport Ave. FedEx, CH Robinson and other major companies from the TDL sector are expected to come prepared to interview and hire on the spot. LeadersUp will connect employers with up to 150 Opportunity Youth — economically and socially disconnected young adults ages 18 to 24 — who have completed its Winning in the Workplace career readiness training to prepare them for entry-level jobs at companies actively looking for talent. 

And, it's not too late to get certified as job-ready: LeadersUp is offering an expedited one-day training session to the public for young adults ages 18–24. Those who complete the course by May 19 will be eligible to register for the hiring fair and guaranteed at least one interview. (Space is limited.) To attend the hiring fair, young adults must participate in the free pre-event training. Go to http://www.leadersup.org/ events/chicagocareer360/ to sign up for the course.

LeadersUp Career 360 hiring events are unique, because job candidates get to demonstrate their skills to prospective employers on site. Stations will be set up around the Lacuna Lofts space for them to do just that. Participants will also hear from a panel of South and West Side professionals and community leaders who will share their stories of triumph over economic and social barriers.

In addition, at 11 a.m. LeadersUp President and CEO Jeffery Wallace will hold a news briefing to announce key findings from the LeadersUp Career 360 Innovation Session in April. LeadersUp convened leaders of Chicago-based nonprofits that serve young people who are homeless, justice-involved, disabled and single parents to identify gaps in programming and to plant the seeds of collaboration.

"Young people are suffering from the exposure gap. People become what they see," Wallace said. "We give youth a 360-degree view of the sector, and we give employers a 360-degree view of our talent base. People have preconceived notions around where people are from. This is about shifting the thinking and changing perceptions."

Media tour: LeadersUp staff will be available to guide members of the press through the fair and facilitate interviews with youth and employers such as CH Robinson, a TDL company and an event sponsor. LeadersUp is also gaining support for the hiring event from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.

"We want to prove to the business community that our young people have power," Wallace said. "The skills employers are looking for are basic employability skills, such as the ability to collaborate, work on a team, or give or take feedback. Young people on Chicago's South and West Sides lack exposure and social capital to land these hidden jobs. LeadersUp is building partnerships to bridge those gaps and create an economically inclusive society."

About LeadersUp
LeadersUp bridges the divide between the untapped potential of young people and the business challenge of finding and keeping the best talent. It was founded in 2013 by Wallace with Starbucks Coffee Company Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz to address key social issues by empowering disconnected young adults in American cities and exposing them to middle-income careers in high-growth industries. LeadersUp provides them with job-specific skills training and ongoing support for their educational and career development; and works with employers to design pathways to mid-level skills careers. Since August 2014, LeadersUp has helped 666 of Chicago's Opportunity Youth land entry-level positions, with a 68% retention rate of 12 months or more. Of that group, 83% have a high school diploma and 16% have completed some type of post-secondary education or skills certification. Based in Los Angeles, LeadersUp is also working to impact opportunity youth in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Media contact: Lenee Richards | [email protected] | 213-760-3019, or Shawn Taylor | [email protected] | 312-371-6260.

SOURCE LeadersUp

Related Links

http://www.leadersup.org