Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Father and two daughters Jeffery M Leving
    Father’s Fight to Protect his Abused and Badly Beaten Daughters Dads' Rights
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations Illinois Legislature
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz” Crime
  • IIEC Logo
    The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs Business
  • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution. After arriving in America in 1776, Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army. As a skilled engineer, he made significant contributions to the war by designing fortifications for several strategic places such as Philadelphia, West Point, and Saratoga. Kosciuszko later returned to Poland to lead his native military in a 1794 uprising. In Detroit, Courtesy of WIkipedia
    Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago Cook County
  • On Saturday, October 4th, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted the Fifth Annual 16th District Dia de los Muertos Resource Fair at his district office. Partnering with Commissioner Aguilar were the Village of Lyons, Lyons School District 103, Teamsters Local 777, and Rincon Family Services.
    Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Fifth Annual Dia de los Muertos Family Resource Fair  Cook County
  • Jesse Jackson Jr July 2025
    Jesse Jackson Jr. Launches Candidacy for Congress Civil Rights
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to Celebrate Diwali by Recognizing Indian Community Leaders Cook County
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Statement of US Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and Federal Law Enforcement Leadership in Chicago on Ongoing Criminal Immigration Enforcement Operations Chicago
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes Cook County
  • Road construction cement truck. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Hastings: $123 million in IDOT projects will improve South Suburban roads through collaboration with local leaders construction
  • Source: Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
    Ratepayers will lose in the rush to approve battery storage electricity legislation in Springfield Business
  • Joyful reunion photo courtesy of Jeffery M. Leving & Assc law firm
    Leving Team Prevented a Father’s Wrongful Separation from His Child Dads' Rights
  • CTF Illinois Orland Park, 18230 Orland Pkwy, Orland Park, IL 60467
    Hastings, Giannoulias announce opening of temporary driver services facility in Orland Park Baby Boomers
  • Emagine Theater Pink popcorn
    Popcorn with a purpose: Emagine Theatres brings back Pink Caramel Corn to support Pink Fund during Breast Cancer Awareness Month Business
Young people, courtesy of Wikipedia

Challenges facing youth seeking jobs to be explored

Posted on May 16, 2017May 16, 2017 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Challenges facing youth seeking jobs to be explored
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Challenges facing youth seeking jobs to be explored

“NOTHING BUILDS A FUTURE LIKE A JOB” JOINT CITY, COUNTY HEARING FOCUSES ON CRISIS OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT Seeking Stronger Policy Solutions, Committees Hear First-hand Accounts of Youths Looking for Work & Agencies’ Struggles to Maintain Programs

CHICAGO — A joint hearing of the Chicago City Council Workforce & Audit Committee, chaired by Alderman Patrick O’Connor, 40th Ward, and the Cook County Workforce, Housing and Community Development Committee, chaired by Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, D-10, will dig into the problems faced by young people looking for jobs in Chicago and Cook County.

“The young people of Chicago are the city’s greatest asset, investing in them and giving them the opportunity to contribute and earn a paycheck is vital to the future of our neighborhoods,” O’Connor said.

The youth employment crisis, exacerbated by the Great Recession, can lead jobless youth to drop out of school and sometimes join gangs as their last resort.

Young Falkland Islanders
Young people (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Nothing builds a future like a job,” Gainer said, regarding the May 16 hearing. “Young people gain experience at their first jobs and the relationships they build create a foundation for lifelong success. Whether it’s part-time or full-time, internship or apprenticeship, giving young people opportunities to work is a proven indicator of healthy communities and cities.”

Youth that have faced those barriers are given a voice at the May 16 joint hearing. A number of them, along with two employers who hire young people from low-income neighborhoods, will testify about the difficulty of finding and getting to jobs, what it’s like to be jobless in Chicago and Cook County, and what works for young people and employers.

“The findings from a soon-to-be released report are that education makes a difference in earning potential and probability of being unemployed,” said Teresa Córdova, Director of Great Cities Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago. “We found that even eight years after the 2008 recession, there is still a crisis of joblessness among Black and Latino teens and young adults. Jobless youth tend to live in economically abandoned areas with concentrated joblessness and limited access to major job centers.”

“The schools we represent have made great progress in getting young people off the streets and into schools, bringing them through to graduation and helping many of them find a way to get started on a college education,” says Alternative Schools Network Executive Director Jack Wuest. “But if we are not, as a society, investing in jobs and employment programs for these youths that will help them take the steps to become successful adults, we are likely to see more problems of violence in our neighborhoods.”

Participating agencies will give testimony on their work in youth employment programs and the joint committee co-chairs will lead a discussion on the impact of youth unemployment, the advantages of hiring youth for employment, and how to achieve job preparedness through youth employment programs.

The commissioners and aldermen are scheduled to hear testimony from Córdova, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership CEO Karin Norington-Reaves, Chicago Department of Family and Support Services Deputy Commissioner Mary Ellen Messner, Thrive Chicago President and Chief Impact Officer Sandra Abrevaya, Emerson Collective Senior Advisor Candice Jones, Rebecca Janowitz from the Cook County Justice Advisory Council and Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation Executive Director Ann Kisting.

The Chicago Urban League, Westside Health Authority, Chicago Area Project, Black United Fund of Illinois, the National Youth Advocate Program, Youth Connection Charter School, Metropolitan Family Services and the Alternative Schools Network will also participate.

For previous reports by the University of Illinois at Chicago Great Cities Institute go to greatcities.uic.edu.

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Father’s Fight to Protect his Abused and Badly Beaten Daughters - October 9, 2025
  • Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations - October 8, 2025
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz” - October 8, 2025
NPV: 47
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
News Tags:Bridgette Gainer, challenges, Chicago, City Council, Cook County Board, jobs, Patrick O'Connor, young people, Youth

Post navigation

Previous Post: Pritzker slams Rauner for avoiding budget issue
Next Post: Pekau sworn in as new mayor of Orland Park

Related Posts

  • Fourteen new classes at Argo High Education
  • Democratic endorsed candidate Marie Newman at rally Sept. 4, 2020 hosted by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce and American Palestine Club. Photo courtesy of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce
    Marie Newman will strive to bring activists and police together breaking news
  • Rush Darwish logo for Congress in the 3rd DIstrict in Illinois
    2nd candidate enters race to challenge Dan Lipinski for Congress Chicago
  • Live Theater. Photo by Gwen King on Unsplash
    Live theater in suburbs offers alternatives to Chicago’s risky visits Blogger
  • Lobbyist correctly predicted beverage tax repeal News
  • Orland Township Senior American Idol
    Jim Spoto Named Orland Township’s Senior American Idol Entertainment

More Related Articles

Northwood University’s Esports Team on Sunday won the Collegiate Rocket League World Championship in Dallas, Texas. Northwood Esports wins Rocket League World Championship Features
Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate Funding for mental health and education in Tinley Park secured by Senator Hastings Government
Orland Fire Protection DIstrict hosts public seminar on Opioid crisis 2016. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Orland Park Village Board Bans Kratom, Tianeptine, Delta 8 THC and other Novel Synthetic and Psychoactive Drugs Government
Bridgeview to rededicate park News
Illinois Senator Michael Hastings, 19th Senate District Hastings reminds residents to make a plan during National Preparedness Month Features
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Treasurer Maria Pappas analysis shows record-high property tax increases for south suburban homeowners  Cook County

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Children of divorce caught in the middle during the holidays
    August 27, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    We Can Help You Understand Your Property Taxes—In Nearly Any Language
    August 8, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Father and two daughters Jeffery M Leving
    Father’s Fight to Protect his Abused and Badly Beaten Daughters
    October 9, 2025
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations
    October 8, 2025
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz”
    October 8, 2025
  • IIEC Logo
    The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs
    October 8, 2025
  • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution. After arriving in America in 1776, Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army. As a skilled engineer, he made significant contributions to the war by designing fortifications for several strategic places such as Philadelphia, West Point, and Saratoga. Kosciuszko later returned to Poland to lead his native military in a 1794 uprising. In Detroit, Courtesy of WIkipedia
    Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago
    October 8, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme