Mayor Rahm Emanuel today joined Chicago Public Schools and JPMorgan Chase Foundation at mHUB to congratulate 97 students who have completed an intensive seven-week summer job and skills training program designed to provide workplace skills and certifications in high-growth, high-demand industry sectors. This program and partnership is part of Mayor Emanuel and CPS’ commitment to increase opportunities for students to earn college, career and industry credentials that provide them with critical skills to bolster postsecondary success.

“This program provided our students with more than a job, it was a chance to learn valuable life skills that will help achieve postsecondary success,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I want to congratulate all of the kids who have graduated from this program for making the commitment and taking the opportunity to gain training in high-growth fields.”

The summer job and skills training certification program, in partnership with CPS and JPMorgan Chase Foundation, was launched in 2015 to provide opportunities for rising juniors, seniors and recent graduates to obtain certifications and workplace skills in high-growth, high-demand industry sectors. Since its inception, 289 students have participated in various certification program through this partnership.

“We’re providing our students with more opportunities to hit the ground running after graduation than ever before,” said CPS CEO Forrest Claypool. “By leveraging partnerships and building programs that provide real-world skills, we’re helping the next generation young Chicagoans prosper.”

This summer, students participated in certification training in health sciences, information technology, or manufacturing and were provided with the opportunity to earn the following industry credentials or certifications: IT - MTA HTML5 (Web Development), IT Essentials (Computer Networking) and Adobe Certified Associate in Visual Communications (Photoshop); Manufacturing - NIMS Machining Level 1; and Health Sciences - Phlebotomy and Basic Nursing Assistant.

“We know that we cannot take a one-size-fits all approach when it comes to student success, and that’s why we’re committed to providing a diverse array of opportunities to help more students gain skills and find their path,” said Chief Education Officer Dr. Janice K. Jackson.

Students also participated in work readiness training and participated in real-life, work-based experiences with companies in Chicago. Participating companies include: Chicago State University Computer Networking Department, Chicago Public Schools Networking and Web Development Departments, Imagen Marketing Consultants, McGrath Lexus, Merkle, Inc., South Shore Hospital and Winston & Strawn.

“JPMorgan Chase supports this program because it not only helps young people discover their talents and interest through summer employment, but also gives them the opportunity to develop marketable skills, attain employer-recognized credentials, and gain valuable professional experience,” said Owen Washburn, Vice President, Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase. “The young Chicagoans completing this program are primed for future educational and career success.”

Career Technical Education (CTE) programs help students improve their employability and earning potential, and bolster postsecondary success. In this program and other CTE programs, high school students receive training in relevant and valuable industries with a focus on real-world, workbased learning opportunities. Students develop critical workplace skills, make connections and use these opportunities as a stepping stone for career development.

Increasing opportunities for students to participate in CTE programs aligns with several of Mayor Emanuel and CPS’ initiatives to bolster postsecondary success for CPS students, including the goal of having 50 percent of CPS students graduate with one or more college or career credentials by 2019.

It also aligns with “Learn. Plan. Succeed.” an initiative designed to help students create a pathway for life after graduation. While nearly 60 percent of CPS students already graduate with a postsecondary plan, Learn.Plan.Succeed. seeks to assist students who need additional planning support by ensuring they have meaningful conversations about their future. For these students, a certificate or industry credential, especially in a high-growth, high demand field, may prove invaluable. Without an aggressive response to employment prospects, young people will continue to experience lower labor market attachment and reduced long-term earning.

Since 2011, CPS student achievement outcomes have dramatically improved, and Mayor Emanuel and CPS continue to invest in new resources and establish new goals for our students. By setting high expectations for our schools and students, expanding access to 21st Century education models and resources, including STEM and IB programs, and developing innovative Career and Technical Education programs, CPS and the City of Chicago are working to improve educational outcomes and provide every one of our students with a high-quality education that prepares them to explore a variety of paths to a successful future.

“Supporting STEM education and exposing young students to the many opportunities in the manufacturing and physical product innovation sector is at the core of mHUB’s mission,” said mHUB Executive Director Haven Allen. “We work daily to make mHUB a center of inspiration an innovation, where anyone can learn a new skillset and find a collaborative community with the resources to go from idea to prototype. We’re proud to support the students of the CPS NIMS Machining Level 1 program this summer and we look forward to supporting similar programs in the future.”

mHUB was incubated in 2016 by World Business Chicago’s Advisory Council for Chicagoland Manufacturing, to further Mayor Emanuel’s Regional Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs. mHUB fosters connections between local manufacturers, university researchers and our city’s entrepreneurial community of makers and technologists, not to mention investors who are eager to support new businesses. By galvanizing these connections, mHUB ensures that the Midwest region’s manufacturing industry continues to grow, lead, and reduce the cost and barriers to entry for physical product innovation. For more information, visit www.mHUBchicago.com and follow @mHUBChicago.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. has made a $17 million, five-year commitment to U.S. cities include Chicago to increase the number of teens with access to quality summer work experiences that put them on a path to greater economic mobility. As part of the firm’s more than $325 million global investment in skills development, this nationwide effort equips young people with the skills and experiences they need to succeed and bridge the gap between the demand for summer jobs and the number of available positions.

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