[August 04, 2015] |
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100,000 Opportunities Initiative to Kick Off With 29 Companies Expected to Engage at Least 3,000 Opportunity Youth and Make Hundreds of Immediate Job Offers in Chicagoland
The 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, a national coalition of leading
U.S.-based companies committed to hiring at least 100,000 Opportunity
Youth by 2018, today welcomed additional partners - including Chipotle
Mexican Grill, Domino's, FedEx, Hyatt, Mars, Nordstrom, Pizza Hut,
Prudential, Red Robin, Sweetgreen, and T-Mobile - to the collective
effort to form the nation's largest employer-led coalition committed to
creating pathways to meaningful employment for America's young people.
"Through this unprecedented partnership with the private and public
sector, we will further accelerate our collective hiring efforts over
the next three years," said Blair Taylor, Starbucks chief community
officer. "Chicago represents an important city for this launch. While
there are more than 200,000 Opportunity Youth in Chicago alone, there is
also an incredibly vibrant system of civic leaders, nonprofit
organizations, businesses and elected officials who share a commitment
to bridging this opportunity divide. And, I am confident that our
collective impact in Chicago will serve as the blueprint for communities
across the country for years to come."
The national initiative, which now includes 29 companies spanning a
number of various industries, is committed to collectively hiring and
engaging at least 100,000 Opportunity Youth - 16 to 24 year olds who
face systemic barriers to jobs and education - by 2018 through
apprenticeships, internships, training programs, and both part-time and
full-time jobs. The coalition will work with community-based
organizations and civic leaders to help deliver the local skills
training and hiring opportunities young people need, ensuring that this
truly cross-sector effort is sustained in the long-term.
For more than ten years, Sheri Schultz, cofounder of the Schultz Family
Foundation, which is a key supporter of the 100,000 Opportunities
Initiative, has been working with community-based organizations to
develop job training programs for youth and young adults. "Like all of
us, these young people need clear pathways to employment so they can
acquire the skills and support to be work ready," said Schultz. "We know
that this is a complex issue and we need all of our collective
horsepower to solve it. For too long, it's been the nonprofit and public
sectors tackling this issue, without meaningful involvement from the
private sector. Closing the opportunity divide requires bold leadership
and innovation across all sectors."
Chicago Opportunity Fair & Forum
The official launch of the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative will take
place on Thursday, Aug. 13 in Chicago where the participating companies,
in collaboration with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership and
community-based organizations, expect to collectively engage at least
3,000 pre-registered youth and anticipate making hundreds of on-the-spot
job offers, delivering immediate impact for their businesses, the
Chicago community and many participating candidates. This ticketed event
will begin with an Opportunity Fair, which will feature informative,
inspirational and interactive experiences for youth including workshops,
on-the-spot mentoring and feedback, college counseling, skills
development, and entertaining events and activities. This will spur
long-term engagement, which will help participating companies hire
thousands of youth in the Chicago area over the next 18 months. This is
expected to deliver an unprecedented impact to the young people and
businesses in Chicago.
"A job is the first step for many toward a responsible life, and we are
energized by the commitment of these companies to engage and hire so
many young people in our region who are looking to take this significant
step," said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. "I commend the
companies who are participating in this initiative, as our young people
represent an unrealized pipeline of talent and an engine of economic
growth for our communities."
"Bringing this first hiring fair to Chicago will have an impact on both
the businesses and the young people that they will hire for years to
come, supporting growth in the City's economy and creating more
opportunities for our residents," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Chicago will
have the chance to showcase its talented workforce to the participating
companies and further increase the potential of our residents to secure
lasting employment."
Following the Opportunity Fair, an inspirational Opportunity Forum will
be hosted by Academy and Grammy® Award winning performing artist Common,
who will lead an open discussion with more than 3,000 young people and
their support networks focused on economic opportunity in America.
Joining Common on stage will be special guests, local "heroes," young
people, entertainers and speakers. The event is a ticketed event for
pre-registered young people and their support networks.
The following member companies have joined the 100,000 Opportunities
Initiative, and many will be represented at the first Opportunity Fair &
Forum in Chicago:
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-- Alaska Airlines
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-- JP Morgan (News - Alert) Chase
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-- Red Robin
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-- Chipotle
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-- Lyft
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-- Starbucks
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-- Cintas
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-- Macy's
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-- Sweetgreen
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-- CVS Health
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-- Mars
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-- Taco Bell
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-- Domino's
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-- Microsoft
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-- Target (News - Alert)
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-- FedEx
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-- Nordstrom
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-- Teavana
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-- Hilton Worldwide
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-- Pizza Hut
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-- T-Mobile
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-- HMSHost
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-- Porch.com
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-- Walgreens
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-- Hyatt
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-- Potbelly Sandwich Shop
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-- Walmart
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-- JCPenney
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-- Prudential
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More than 40 community based organizations, government agencies, and
other organizations have joined together to participate in the Chicago
Opportunity Fair & Forum with the objective of connecting Opportunity
Youth to services, workshops, and employment opportunities.
Highlights include:
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Twelve different organizations will host workshops on rotating topics,
including the Chicago Urban League who will help young people craft a
great resume and provide tips for how to make an application stand out
when applying online and College Advising Corps, who will advise young
people on how to choose a college pathway that is right for them and
how to finance their college choice.
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More than 10 workforce development and youth support agencies,
including Youth Guidance, Goodwill, YearUp, and Employment & Employer
Services, will be available for youth to get connected to support,
training, and job placement services. Attendees will also be able to
connect to national service opportunities through organizations,
including Public Allies and City Year, will be recruiting youth to
join paid programs where they can build skills while giving back to
their communities and schools.
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LinkedIn (News - Alert) will be onsite to help attendees create and improve their
LinkedIn profiles and provide tips for building their online
professional networks.
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Youth will have also have opportunities through Get Schooled, Road
Trip Nation, and the Young Chicago Authors to find new and creative
ways to express themselves.
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Participants will also be able to get reconnected to the Chicago
Public School system through the SOAR program, access crucial personal
documentation through the Secretary of State, and even discover all
the resources available through the Chicago Public Library.
The following is the complete list of community-based organizations,
government services, and other organizations that will have a presence
at the fair, in addition to the more than 200 agencies helping to
recruit youth to attend the event and interview for jobs:
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-- All-Stars Project
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-- Department of Family & Support Services
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-- Public Allies
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-- Arizona State University
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-- Economic Awareness Council
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-- Road Trip Nation
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-- Beyond Z
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-- Employment & Employer Services
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-- Secretary of State
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-- Boys and Girls Club of Chicago
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-- Get Schooled
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-- Central States SER
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-- Business and Career Services, Inc.
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-- Goodwill
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-- Service Nation
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-- Chicago City of Learning
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-- Illinois Mentoring Network
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-- Teach for America
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-- Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
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-- Indigo
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-- Thrive Chicago
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-- Chicago Public Libraries
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-- La Casa Norte
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-- UIC
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-- Chicago Public Schools
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-- LeadersUp
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-- Year Up
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-- Chicago Urban League
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-- LinkedIn
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-- Young Chicago Authors
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-- Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance
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-- Metropolitan Family Services
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-- Youth Guidance
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-- City Colleges of Chicago
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-- National Council of Young Leaders/Opportunity Youth United
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-- YouthBuild USA
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-- City Year
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-- One Goal
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-- College Advising Corps
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-- One Million Degrees
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-- College Greenlight
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-- One Summer Chicago
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Funders participating in the initiative include:
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-- Accenture (News - Alert) (in kind)
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-- JPMorgan Chase Foundation
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-- Schultz Family Foundation
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-- Domino's
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-- MacArthur Foundation
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-- Starbucks
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-- FedEx
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-- Prudential
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-- Walmart/Walmart Foundation
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-- Joyce Foundation
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-- The Rockefeller Foundation
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-- W.K. Kellogg Foundation
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The Aspen Institute's Forum for Community Solutions will act as an
intermediary for the initiative in the hiring cities, building upon the
existing work of its national Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund (OYIF).
The OYIF currently supports collaborative efforts focused on Opportunity
Youth in 21 communities around the country. The Aspen Institute will
provide direct leadership, technical assistance, and programmatic
support to launch the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative in Chicago and
future cities.
Chipotle: Commitment to Opportunity Youth
Chipotle provides extraordinary advancement opportunities and industry
leading benefits for its employees. Currently, more than 95 percent of
Chipotle's managers come from within the ranks of its crew, and the
company recently expanded its benefit programs to include paid sick days
and vacation days, as well as tuition reimbursement for hourly crew.
With more than 75 percent of its workforce aged 16-24, Chipotle offers a
career path that is ideal for young, ambitious people entering the
workforce. The company's people culture is built around identifying top
performers, empowering them to achieve high standards, and developing
them to become the company's future leaders. With more than 1,850
restaurants, 60,000 employees and 2,100 open positions, Chipotle is
always looking for additional top performing individuals to join its
team.
Domino's: Commitment to Opportunity Youth
At Domino's, 90% of our franchisees started in delivery driver or
in-store positions. They turned their first job into an amazing career
as business owners. Our franchisees and corporate store leaders are
committed to serving neighborhoods all around the country. Domino's is a
brand of opportunity, and as we continue our growth trajectory, we can
fill thousands of jobs throughout the country in our company-owned and
franchised stores this year alone. Many of these positions will be
filled by young people looking for an entry-point into the workforce.
FedEx: Commitment to Opportunity Youth
FedEx believes that access to new markets, knowledge and opportunities
makes people's lives better. We know that connections foster prosperity,
and to maintain progress toward a better world, we must not only create
Access for today's thinkers, leaders and entrepreneurs, but for the next
generation as well. Our commitment to education is focused on innovative
solutions that help close the achievement gap and create and teach
Access. Together with some of the top nonprofit organizations across the
country, we are supporting tomorrow's diverse young leaders to gain the
skills and experience they need to succeed.
Hyatt: Commitment to Opportunity Youth
Hyatt, a leading global hospitality company with more than 97,000
colleagues worldwide, has a deep global commitment to caring for people
to be their best. A key component of the company's corporate
responsibility program, Hyatt Thrive, focuses on programs that equip
disadvantaged people and youth to reach their full potential. Across the
U.S. and in places around the world such as Amman, Bangkok, Istanbul,
São Paulo, Mumbai and Delhi, Hyatt hotels have long partnered with
organizations such as Youth Career Initiative and Hands on Education to
provide skills training and expanded career choices. This year, Hyatt
also announced plans to develop a new, multi-year partnership with Khan
Academy, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free access to
world-class education online. For more information, visit hyattthrive.com or jobs.hyatt.com.
Nordstrom: Commitment to Opportunity Youth
Nordstrom continues to evolve the ways it serves customers at its stores
(at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, Jeffrey, and Trunk Club clubhouses) and
online (at Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com, HauteLook.com, and
TrunkClub.com). The company recognizes that connecting with young people
- the next generation of customers and retail talent - is the best way
to ensure long-term support of this growth. To make these connections,
Nordstrom has created strong relationships with universities around the
country where company leaders participate in round table conversations,
job shadows and cooperative education projects. Additionally, each year
the company provides thousands of job and educational opportunities
through its own internship program and community partners such as
YearUp, Rainier Scholars, the LaGrant Foundation and Out For Work.
Nordstrom is committed to giving back by providing contributions to
organizations that empower youth such as the Boys & Girls Club, Girls
Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters, Junior Achievement and Black Retail
Action Group (BRAG). The company also awards 80 Nordstrom Scholarships
each year to outstanding high school students who are ready to pursue
their college education.
Pizza Hut: Commitment to Opportunity Youth
Pizza Hut is the world's largest pizza company and has a long-standing
commitment to the betterment of young people through education and
opportunity. Through the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! youth literacy program,
which started in 1984 and is now the longest-running corporate supported
literacy program in the country, Pizza Hut provides more than 14 million
students each year with materials and messages about the positive impact
a love for reading can have on their future. In addition, Pizza Hut -
which employees more than 150,000 people a year in the U.S. alone -
champions a culture of unlocking potential, demonstrated by the number
of above restaurant leaders who began with the company as team members
and shift managers. Pizza Hut is committed to continuing to motivate and
provide opportunity for young people to be introduced to a rewarding
career in the restaurant industry.
Red Robin: Commitment to Opportunity Youth
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB) has been the Gourmet
Burger Authority since 1969. The casual dining restaurant chain embodies
its unique culture of learning, development and recognition, which also
serves as the foundation for how it treats its Team Members. With more
than 13,000 hourly Team Members between the ages of 18-25, Red Robin is
proud to support the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative at the Opportunity
Fair & Forum in Chicago, on Aug. 13. As part of its commitment to youth,
Red Robin offers meaningful career opportunities, on the job training
and life-long skills. Red Robin is a support network that cares about
its Team Members both personally and professionally, and regardless of
where their careers take them, many find they are Better for Being Here.
For more information, visit redrobin.jobs.
T-Mobile: Commitment to Opportunity Youth
As America's Un-carrier, T-Mobile is changing wireless for the better.
We bring that same Un-carrier approach to how we support and engage
America's youth as a critical part of our award-winning workforce. We
are committed to building career pathways for youth in communities
across the country, providing them with a wealth of skills, training,
and experiences to be successful in the mobile world and beyond. The
"mobile-first generation" is critical to T-Mobile and we are proud to
participate in the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative to build the future
-- together.
Leaders Quotes:
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
"At The Partnership, we believe that this initiative will provide youth
with the experience and skills needed to achieve employment," said
the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership Chief Executive Officer, Karin M.
Norington-Reaves. "This event will inspire youth to lay the
groundwork for a solid career pathway and strengthen the regions
workforce."
Chipotle
"We believe that our success is the direct result of our incredibly
strong people culture, which is rooted in having teams of all top
performers, and developing them to be the leaders we will need to
accommodate our growth," said Monty Moran, co-chief executive officer
at Chipotle Mexican Grill. "The nature of opportunities we provide
are ideal for young people entering the workforce. Regardless of your
background or experience, you can succeed at Chipotle if you have a
passion for making the people around you better. Working here isn't just
a job, but a career where employees learn how to make others better, run
a successful business, master culinary techniques, and most importantly,
lead teams of top performers through empowerment. For people who embrace
that culture, the opportunities are tremendous."
Domino's
"The 100,000 Opportunities Initiative can provide a pathway for young
people to succeed in many of the neighborhoods our brand serves, through
employment in company-owned and franchised stores that offers basic job
skills, operations, and management training programs, and exposure to an
enthusiastic global brand," said Domino's CEO Patrick Doyle. "We
are proud to team up with other iconic brands in this initiative to
build the next generation of skilled team members and business owners."
Hyatt
"At Hyatt, caring for people to be their best is how we make a
difference in the world - in our hotels and in our communities," said
Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. "A
critical part of this is providing young people opportunities to reach
their full potential. We are delighted to join forces in the 100,000
Opportunities Initiative, and are optimistic about the positive impact
we can make - starting in our hometown of Chicago."
Leaders Up
"LeadersUp is proud to support the 100,000 Opportunities
Initiative. Our work with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership in
helping to prepare young adults with the skills employers are
seeking will strengthen the talent-pipeline between local companies and
Chicago's opportunity youth," said Jeffrey Wallace, President of
LeadersUp. "The 100,000 Opportunities Initiative illustrates the
significant impact public-private partnerships can make in addressing
the youth unemployment and the talent-divide challenge, and is a shift
in the right direction towards creating a more inclusive economy."
Nordstrom
"As a company, Nordstrom has long been committed to engaging with and
supporting youth as the future leaders of our communities," said
Jamie Nordstrom, president of Stores at Nordstrom, Inc. "We are
excited for the opportunity, through the 100,000 Opportunities
Initiative, to meet some terrific Chicagoland young people and share
with them why we think that Nordstrom is a great place to start a
career."
Pizza Hut
"Pizza Hut is dedicated to helping people unlock life's potential,"
said David Gibbs, CEO, of Pizza Hut, Inc. "As the leader of the
pizza category, we felt it was our responsibility, and privilege, to
join the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative to help provide young people
with the tools and know-how to get job ready."
Red Robin
"Red Robin is excited to be part of the 100,000 Opportunities
Initiative and work alongside many of America's most influential
companies, helping to guide thousands of young people across the
country to start their careers," said Denny Marie Post, Red
Robin's executive vice president and chief concept officer.
"Our brand creates special moments in the lives of guests and Team
Members alike. We seek to build Team Members skills and focus during
their time with Red Robin, and even beyond. Red Robin Team Members know
they have a great support network and we are committed to helping them
achieve their goals. We look for Team Members who embody the Red
Robin spirit of genuine service and provide them with the leadership
skills necessary to grow successful careers."
Thrive Chicago
"By working to align efforts of service providers, city agencies, the
K-12 system, institutions of higher education, foundations, and
others, we at Thrive Chicago are able to help young people succeed," said
Jennifer Keeling, director of Thrive Chicago. "In partnership with
the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative and these industry-leading
companies who are hiring qualified candidates, we are able to connect
hundreds of local Opportunity Youth with jobs."
T-Mobile
"Investing time in America's youth is a perfect match for T-Mobile," said
John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. "So many kids out there
have to fight huge odds to compete, to get ahead and to win - just like
we do. What could be better than bringing some of that talent and
ambition to the Un-carrier?"
For more leader quotes from members of the 100,000 Opportunities
Initiative, including Alaska Airlines, Cintas, CVS Health, Hilton
Worldwide, HMSHost, JCPenney, JPMorgan Chase, Lyft, Macy's, Microsoft (News - Alert),
Porch.com, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Target,
Teavana, Walgreens and Walmart, visit: www.100kOpportunities.org.
Media Registration Information/Contact:
Media interested in attending the event must pre-register for
credentials by contacting [email protected].
About the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative
The 100,000 Opportunities Initiative has the goal of creating the
nation's largest employer-led private sector coalition committed to
creating pathways to employment for young people. Companies engaged in
the coalition will help to launch careers for young people that are just
entering the workforce, including internships, apprenticeships and on
the job training, in addition to developing potential in youth that have
some work experience but are looking to gain new skills that lead to a
successful career. The participating companies are committed to
diversity and equal employment opportunity, and the Opportunity
Initiative does not prevent opportunities for older workers. Its purpose
is to open up new opportunities that currently do not exist for some
youth. For more information, please visit www.100kOpportunities.org.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150804006452/en/
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