ComEd’s CONSTRUCT Youth Academy returns for the
second year with expanded programming at Chicagoland YMCA of Metro
Chicago and Goodwill sites
ComEd today joined workforce partners the YMCA of Metropolitan
Chicago and Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and
Metropolitan Chicago in announcing the return of the CONSTRUCT
Infrastructure Youth Academy, a paid summer career exposure program
for high school students interested in careers in the construction
and energy fields. Just in time for youth making their summer
plans, the CONSTRUCT Youth Academy is back for its second year,
with new locations added across the Chicagoland area, and classes
set to begin in both June and July. Interested students are
encouraged to apply through YMCA or Goodwill now through May
31.
The program is one example of how ComEd is growing opportunities
for local youth and residents to prepare for roles in the
fast-growing clean energy sector in Illinois. A recently
commissioned study by ComEd, reveals that as many as 150,000 clean
energy jobs will arrive in Illinois by 2050.
"ComEd is committed to expanding career pathways for youth
across northern Illinois as we work to create a talent pipeline
that is needed for the transition to a clean energy future,” said
David Perez, executive vice president and COO of ComEd. “In
partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and Goodwill
Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago, the
CONSTRUCT Youth Academy is growing to reach more youth in more
communities with a chance to prepare for fast-growing careers in
our field, giving them a chance to play a role in building a
stronger future for their community, while earning a good paying
wage.”
The CONSTRUCT Youth Academy program caters to area teens
interested in learning about the wide range of careers in energy,
from entry-level craft positions to roles in STEM, engineering and
more. New to the curriculum this year, students will participate in
a community service project building dressers for underserved
communities using construction skills learned in the program.
Students will also get out into the field to study key equipment
used to oversee and maintain the grid as part of drone-flying
demos; and will meet with company leaders to learn more about
ComEd’s vehicle fleet and how it is transitioning to EVs.
ComEd is teaming up with the YMCA of Metro Chicago and Goodwill
Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metro Chicago to recruit
and conduct interviews for students interested in the program. Once
enrolled, students will attend classroom sessions three times a
week held across YMCA’s locations in Woodlawn, West Humboldt Park,
Little Village and Palatine, and at Goodwill’s Workforce Connection
Center in Englewood.
"As a core component of the Y's growing portfolio of programs in
the workforce space, the CONSTRUCT Youth Academy provides our local
teens with a behind-the-scenes look at jobs they might never have
considered, while also empowering them to develop new, practical,
and transferable professional and life skills," said Martina
"Tina" Hone, chief economic inclusion & equity officer, YMCA of
Metropolitan Chicago. "We know that introducing young people to
the tremendous possibilities in these careers is a key step in
setting them up for long-term success. The Y is proud to partner
with ComEd again this year to expand the program, which — based on
last year's astounding demand — points to young people’s rising
interest in careers in energy and the trades!"
The program returns after high levels of interest from local
youth, with hundreds of applications received last year. As part of
an effort to expand the CONSTRUCT Youth Academy program from one to
five sites this year, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin
and Metropolitan Chicago joins as a new workforce partner assisting
with recruitment and training with local youth.
“Goodwill is thrilled to support this up-and-coming program that
will expand our reach to local youth in helping them identify
well-paying and fulfilling careers to pursue,” said Clayton
Pryor, chief mission officer, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern
Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago. “Through this program, we
are using our expertise as a leading workforce development provider
to provide quality job readiness training, skill building and
supportive services to teens and young adults to reach them earlier
in their life journey and improve outcomes for sustained
employment, career advancement and independence.”
To be eligible for the program, applicants must be a rising high
school junior or senior. The program will have two cohorts, the
first beginning June 10, the second beginning July 8, and students
will receive a stipend upon completion of the program. Both the
YMCA and Goodwill will provide CTA passes for participants
traveling to the classroom sessions. Those interested in applying
for the program through the YMCA can learn more details and apply
here. Those interested in joining through Goodwill can submit their
application here.
The CONSTRUCT Youth Academy builds on the success of the
CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Academy, ComEd’s premiere workforce
development program which has successfully trained more than 800
residents for trades roles in the construction and energy fields.
The CONSTRUCT programs are among a variety of workforce offerings
through ComEd and its partner agencies, which in 2023 collectively
helped reach more than 2,000 local residents. For more on ComEd
career readiness programs, please visit
www.ComEd.com/CleanEnergyJobs.
About ComEd
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ:
EXC), a Fortune 250 energy company with approximately 10 million
electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of
customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million
customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s
population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with
the company on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is the leader in accessible,
inclusive programming for more than 300,000 individuals each year,
strengthening community by connecting all people to their purpose,
potential, and each other. The YMCA of Metro Chicago is evolving to
become a 21st-century social enterprise for the region, through an
association of 14 community hubs, 5 overnight camps, and 100
extension sites throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest. Learn more
about the Y's locations and programming at www.ymcachicago.org.
About Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and
Metropolitan Chicago
Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan
Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides people with
opportunities and support to empower themselves and thrive through
training, development and employment. As the largest among a
network of more than 150 Goodwill organizations in North America,
the organization serves a 23-county territory across two states –
Wisconsin and Illinois.
Our Goodwill region employs more than 5,000 employees who help
us meet the needs of more than 50,000 people across our
territories. For more than 100 years, since 1919, we’ve employed
job seekers, supported our communities, and provided an exceptional
experience for our shoppers and donors in support of our mission:
Connecting people to work. Preparing people for life.
For more information or to find a Goodwill near you, visit
goodwillsew.com. Find us on Facebook (facebook.com/goodwillsewmc),
YouTube (@GoodwillSEWMC), and X and Instagram
(@AmazingGoodwill).
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