Employers and other Resources
City Year
City Year is an education-focused non-profit dedicated to reducing the high school dropout rate in 28 cities around the US. City Year brings together 18-25 year olds from diverse backgrounds to be AmeriCorps members in under-resourced schools, serving as tutors, mentors, and role models to students at risk of dropping out. In addition to whole classroom and individual student support, City Year AmeriCorps members run after-school programs, family engagement events, and positive school climate initiatives. Throughout the year, they receive leadership and professional development, earn the Segal Education award, and become eligible for over $3M in undergraduate and graduate school scholarships.Department of Children and Family Services
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is the state agency charged with safeguarding the welfare of Illinois children. DCFS is a large, nationally recognized and respected child welfare agency.
Heartland Alliance
Heartland Alliance—the leading anti-poverty organization in the Midwest— believes that all of us deserve the opportunity to improve our lives. Each year, we help ensure this opportunity for nearly one million people around the world who are homeless, living in poverty, or seeking safety. Our multicultural staff are passionate about our mission and make Heartland Alliance a dynamic and exciting place to develop your career.iMentor
Every student deserves a champion, and every college graduate can be one with iMentor.In a city where opportunity is not equally distributed in all communities, iMentor (https://imentor.org/) is fighting to rebalance the odds and give CPS high school students a fair chance to realize their dreams. We partner with public high schools and match full grades of students with college-educated mentors who become their champions.
Over the last three years, iMentor has matched over 600 juniors with mentors. The AmeriCorps community has been a significant part of that number, with nearly 20 AmeriCorps employees, leaders and alumni serving as mentors to iMentor students across the city. In this upcoming school year, iMentor will be matching 600 more juniors with mentors. Will you join the AmeriCorps + iMentor community?
Mentors commit to a three-year relationship, exchanging one online communication with their mentee each week and attending one group event each month. iMentor provides a proven curriculum and expert staff to ensure pairs are successful. Hear directly from mentors and students in this short video - https://vimeo.com/169275378 . We are currently recruiting for mentors to be paired in fall of 2018.
It’s easy to get started: just fill out the online application - https://imentor.org/get-involved/become-a-mentor or register for an orientation - https://www.eventbrite.com/o/imentor-chicago-13007962780 . Email Cicely Tatum-Johnson at ctatumjohnson@imentor.org with questions.
K.L.E.O. Center
K.L.E.O. Community Life Center (formerly The KLEO Barrett Angel Foundation) is a non-profit corporation founded in 2007 by Executive Director Pastor Torrey L. Barrett in honor of his sister, Kleo Yolaughn Barrett, the youngest daughter of Pastor and Mrs. T.L. Barrett. Jr. who was tragically killed by an ex-boyfriend at the young age of 27. In honor of Kleo Y. Barrett, the foundation was established to help eradicate domestic violence with an encouraging message to Keep Loving Each Other (K.L.E.O.).
K.L.E.O.’s initial goals were to assist women and children affected by acts of domestic violence by improving their socio-economic status, self-esteem, and quality of life through community-based sustainability programs. K.L.E.O’s Mission has expanded to providing service for families in these key areas; education, public safety, health and human services and economic development.
Noble Charter Schools
Noble is the largest and highest-performing charter network in Chicago. We are comprised of 17 high schools and 1 middle school serving over 12,000 students who are predominantly students of color and first generation college students from low-income areas of the city.
At Noble, we believe that all students are capable of graduating from college, and it is our job to ensure that all of our graduates are academically and socially prepared to do so. So far, 98% of our graduates have been accepted to at least one 4-year college, with the class of 2018 earning an average of more than 6 college acceptances per student. Finally, 90% of Noble graduates enroll in college immediately after graduating from our schools.
North Park University
North Park University offers professionals graduate degree programs in business, education, music, nonprofit management, and nursing. Our graduate programs are flexible, affordable and convenient, with many evening and online options. In addition to an expert faculty, we draw on Chicago itself to bring relevant professionals, educators, musicians, executive directors, nurses, and business leaders into our classrooms. North Park graduate classes are small. You’ll connect with your professors and fellow students, building valuable relationships while you continue your journey toward a life of significance and service.Northwestern University - Center for Talent Development
At Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development (CTD), we believe the best educators don’t just teach; they inspire young people to think big, take risks and believe in themselves. These are the educators and support staff that gifted students need; these are the staff we hire. Join us, and experience the rewards of working within a vibrant learning community while inspiring open and eager young minds. CTD has frequent staff and instructor openings throughout the year: instructors and teaching assistants for academic year programming on the weekends as well as during the summer; residential staff openings are for summer-only internships.
One Hope United
One Hope United’s purpose has been to care for children and to ensure they grow up in safe, loving environments. Today OHU’s team of over 700 talented professionals serves thousands of children and families each year in Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Florida. One Hope United increases opportunities for children and families by providing quality solutions that enhance lives, communities and futures.
Public Allies
SAGA Fellows
SAGA Innovations is dedicated to transforming American public education. SAGA drives the expansion of the nationally recognized innovation of high-dosage, intensive daily tutoring, where tutoring is a part of the regular school day for students as a scheduled class period. We partner with district public schools to provide students the opportunity to work with a qualified, engaging tutor who tailors instruction to the needs of two students at a time.
The SAGA Innovations program is a full time, in-school professional paid math tutoring opportunity. We are dedicated to transforming American public education. We are currently seeking passionate, dedicated individuals to apply to this position and commit to completing one academic school year.
The ideal tutor is open-minded, patient, excited about education reform, seeking a gap year before attending a 4 year university, organized, a self-starter, a team player, is comfortable working with adolescent students, and should have effective communication skills. This role requires hard work, creativity, and a dedication to helping students beat the odds, achieve academic success, and build strong relationships.
SOS Children's Villages of IL
SOS Children's Villages Illinois is a nonprofit child welfare agency that serves Illinois' most vulnerable children and families. The model of care employed by SOS Children’s Villages Illinois is part of a 67-year international tradition utilized by over 550 SOS Children’s Villages in 134 countries worldwide. Our model differs from traditional foster care in emphasizing that children:
1. Live together with their siblings
2. Receive care and support from a full-time, professionally trained Foster Parent
3. Grow up in private, single-family homes
4. Benefit from the support of the Village, designed as an intentional community
Currently, SOS Children's Villages Illinois operates four sites: three Villages providing sibling group foster care at an 18-home Village (opened in 1993) in Lockport, Illinois; a 19-home Village (opened in 2004) in the Auburn Gresham/Englewood neighborhood of Chicago; a 14-home Village (opened 2014) in the Roosevelt Square Community of Chicago, as well as Casa Tepeyac (acquired in 2011), a facility that offers preventative and in-home services in the Back of the Yards neighborhood of Chicago.
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois celebrates a 100% high school graduation rate, compared to a national average of 50% for children in foster care. Additionally, in November 2015, Chicago Magazine named SOS Children’s Villages Illinois one of twenty “Best Charities in Chicago.”
The Salvation Army
Thresholds
Named a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and a 10-time winner of Chicago’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, Thresholds follows our employee’s example of excellence by going above and beyond. Thresholds employees are real-life superheroes. Each staff member contributes to providing life-saving mental health services with heart and an unparalleled focus on recovery through innovative, evidence-based practices.
Tutoring Chicago
Tutoring Chicago is a private, nonprofit organization that provides free, weekly tutoring to students in grades 1-6. All of the students are from economically disadvantaged families. All of the tutors are adult volunteers who meet with their students once a week during the school year. In 2017-2018, Tutoring Chicago served 700 students with the help of over 750 volunteers.
YMCA of the USA
Imagine going to work knowing that what you do each day positively affects the lives of the people in your community. Working at the Y, you'll discover more than a job—you’ll enjoy a career with a future and the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of those around you. In more than 10,000 communities nationwide, our staff members of all ages and from diverse backgrounds and life experiences enjoy the personal satisfaction that comes from nurturing the potential of youth and teens, improving the nation's health and well-being and providing support to our neighbors.Career Coaching & Resume Review
Kate Solis Silva, Career and Personal Development Coach
Kate Solis Silva brings a decade of both corporate and nonprofit experience to her Career and Personal Development Coaching. Focused on providing holistic strategies for mission-driven professionals and those seeking to transition into more meaningful work, She empowers her clients to know themselves to know their best careers.
Kate is an iPEC certified Professional Coach and Energy Leadership Master Practitioner, a member of the International Coach Federation and the National Career Development Association, and an active Volunteer Coach with the Career Transition Center of Chicago. A strong advocate for Mentorship, she has co-chaired the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago’s Mentorship Committee for the past two years.
In addition to being a life-long volunteer, Kate’s professional nonprofit background includes internships at the Cascade AIDS Project and the Michigan Region Red Cross. She is a LISC AmeriCorps Alumni, serving in Southwest Detroit with Urban Neighborhood Initiatives from 2011-2012.
In Chicago, Kate was employed with Chicago Lights from 2013-18, most recently serving as the organization’s Associate Director of Development. She has served as an Advisory Board Member for the Chicago Charity Challenge and a volunteer with Upwardly Global. Kate is a Chicago Women in Philanthropy member and received the Judith O’Connor Memorial Scholarship to attend the BoardSource National Conference in last fall.
Ace Your Next Interview - 12-1pm (limited space available)
Facilitated by Melissa Frazin, Career Advisor/Assistant Director for Career Development & Engagement at University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC)
Interviews are a necessary component of almost any job search, though applicants do not always know how to prepare themselves for interview success. Attend this interactive workshop where we will discuss the steps you can take before, during and after interviews to impress future employers. The workshop will also cover how to specifically talk about experiences and skills gained through AmeriCorps service during interviews with employers.
Facilitated by Melissa Frazin, Career Advisor/Assistant Director for Career Development & Engagement at University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC)
Interviews are a necessary component of almost any job search, though applicants do not always know how to prepare themselves for interview success. Attend this interactive workshop where we will discuss the steps you can take before, during and after interviews to impress future employers. The workshop will also cover how to specifically talk about experiences and skills gained through AmeriCorps service during interviews with employers.