Congratulations to the 2010 graduates of the Chicago Southland YouthBuild (CSYB) program! 28 students completed the program on June 30, 2010 and are moving on to various employment and post secondary education opportunities.

This was OAI’s first 9-month CSYB program cycle and we are pleased to report that we achieved a 90% retention rate. So far 7 students have successfully earned their General Education Diploma (GED) and many more are awaiting test results in July and August.

One significant positive outcome was John Nettles earning a two-year full scholarship to South Suburban College in the Building Construction Technology Department. John demonstrated his work ethic and commitment to excellence throughout the year, which led to his nomination by the South Suburban College staff for this award.

OAI is particularly grateful to our many partners for making this program a resounding success. They include: Enrollment and Community Education Department at South Suburban College, Building Construction Technology Department at South Suburban College, Business & Career Institute at South Suburban College, Dr. Theresa Dixon of the Gloria J. Taylor Foundation, the Bethlehem Temple Church & Community Development Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of the Chicago South Suburbs and the Chicago Wisdom Project as well as a number of instructors and volunteers.

The CSYB program recruits and trains at-risk young adults living in south Cook County communities-- Harvey, Riverdale, Blue Island, Dixmoor, Dolton, Calumet Park, Robbins, and Chicago’s 9th and 34th Wards. In this 9-month program, people ages 18–24 work toward their GED while learning job skills by building affordable housing for low-income people. Strong emphasis is placed on leadership development, community service and environmental literacy.

The students developed a video project titled “I AM” during Theodore Richard’s Chicago Wisdom Project Class. The video can be viewed below.

We currently are recruiting for the upcoming 2010/2011 CSYB program. Please call the Harvey office at: (708) 339-8173 today to reserve your space in an upcoming program Orientation session. Don’t wait, slots are filling up quickly and recruitment will end August 20, 2010!

The best way to determine how far you have travelled is to know where your journey started. For Levi Pearson, his journey started with sporadic employment, a lack of marketable skills and plenty of self-doubt. Although difficult and plagued with disappointments and doubt, his journey to self-reliance gave him the strength and confidence to create a better future for himself.

For almost a decade Levi had gone from job to job, never really settling into a preference or career choice. With his work history indicating a lack of stability or direction, he found it increasingly difficult to secure employment. With fewer employment prospects and a bleak economy tilting toward double-digit unemployment, Levi decided to combat his personal unemployment crisis by acquiring new skills and enrolling in a job training program.

Levi applied for and was selected into the Greencorps Chicago program in 2008. While a participant in the Greencorps program, he acquired the marketable skills and confidence necessary to successfully compete in today’s highly competitive job market. With a relentless commitment, he learned and absorbed all he could from the Greencorps and OAI staff and instructors. Armed with renewed purpose, confidence and skills, Levi transitioned from unemployment to employment.

Presently working for ABM, one of the country’s leading facility services contractors, as a building/facility maintenance worker is just the beginning for Levi. He believes his Greencorps and OAI training started him on a new journey that can only take him to bigger and better things.

As a participant in the Greencorps Chicago program, Harith Goodwin stood out as an articulate, intelligent and personable trainee. His fellow Greencorps Chicago trainees valued his opinion and trusted his leadership. As a result, he was promoted to crew leader and maintained this position throughout the program.

Harith is a natural leader and his work ethic is unquestioned. While enrolled in Greencorps Chicago, he took full advantage of all the program had to offer in terms of technical skills training and work experience. Training in weatherization and environmental health and safety prepared him for an excellent employment opportunity that would have been out of his reach if not for his participation in Greencorps Chicago.

Today Harith Goodwin works as an assessor and inspector for the Community and Economic Development Association of Illinois, Inc. (CEDA), one of the largest private non-profit organizations in the United States. His position is directly related to his training at Greencorps and a testament to his and Greencorps Chicago’s commitment to improving the quality of life of trainees.

Lorenzo Dunn was released from federal prison in May of 2008. Mr. Dunn was incarcerated for numerous drug offenses, but decided at the time of his release that he was ready for a life change. He came to OAI, Inc. and tested for the MWT Program in August 2008. After going through the intensive selection process, he was selected to participate in the MWT program. Mr. Dunn was an exemplary trainee who later extended his training to include weatherization and insulation through one of OAI, Inc’s partner employers, W&M Insulation.

W&M hired Mr. Dunn as a weatherization laborer, where he proved himself to be a reliable, driven employee. Within a few months of joining W&M, Mr. Dunn started his own company and worked as a subcontractor for W&M Insulation performing weatherization and abatement services.