HIRE360, a nonprofit that connects underserved minority businesses and communities to jobs in the building trades across the region, recently announced it is collaborating with Project H.O.O.D. for Pre-Apprenticeship Program recruitment. Founded in 2011 by Pastor Corey B. Brooks, Project H.O.O.D. provides mentorship, skills training and community for residents on Chicago’s South Side with the goal of ending the cycle of poverty, violence and incarceration by providing alternatives to crime, neglect and hopelessness.
Together, these organizations will work to recruit candidates into union trades apprenticeship programs and prepare them for work opportunities in upcoming construction projects. This 12-week program will incorporate industry-recognized curriculum, help candidates access credentials such as CPR certification and OSHA-10 training, and prepare candidates to compete and succeed in the apprenticeship application process.
“Our program prepares workers to apply for apprenticeships,” says Jay Rowell, Executive Director of HIRE360. “The opportunities in unionized construction are incredible and we’re grateful to partner with Project H.O.O.D. on this program and expand recruitment across the South Side.”
“We realized that historically the unions have kept Black and brown people from having an opportunity to participate,” said Pastor Corey B. Brooks, CEO of Project H.O.O.D. and founder and Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Church of Chicago. We believe this partnership will create pathways of opportunities that will be beneficial to all including minorities.”
Upcoming outreach events will be held Wednesday, May 25 at 5:00 p.m. and Friday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m.
HIRE360 and Project H.O.O.D.’s collaboration for a pre-apprenticeship program is funded in part by the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. The Illinois Works Jobs Program Act was created as a result of Governor Pritzker’s historic $45 billion capital plan and his commitment to expanding equity in Illinois’ construction workforce. The program provides training to prepare underrepresented populations in the construction and building trades. This includes women, people of color and veterans.
Individuals who are interested in learning more can fill out the assessment form at https://hire360chicago.com/projecthood/.
