Gracie is a 16-year-old Dekalb High junior who was looking for a job. After seeing a social media post about YJC’s Old Navy program, she took the enterprising step of reaching out to enroll.

Aireyonna wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life. Nursing had always been a passion of hers, but she had to put it on the back burner due to becoming a mother as a teenager and, in her words, “life in general.” (Who can’t relate to that?) However, she held out hope that she would get to return to her dream at some point, and, as she puts it, “YJC was that stepping stone for me.”

Meet Montserath, a kind and driven young woman with an inspiring story. Read about how she dusted off a previously abandoned dream and found her spark again.

Jeremiah had never had a job, and he wanted to change that. Ready to get started—and especially interested in working at Old Navy—Jeremiah connected with YJC, where he got top-notch support to help him achieve his goal, including interview coaching (since he had never participated in a job interview before) and preparation for entering the TWO program.

21-year-old Destri says, "Before YJC, I thought I would’ve been stuck in survival mode barely making ends meet." Read her story of building confidence, bonding with her career coach, and utilizing resources provided by YJC (like a brand new laptop, a bus card, scrubs, financial workshops, and more) to build a life she didn't know was possible.

When Jahaira came to YJC, she had been going to school, working in customer service, and trying to figure out a plan for her career. She was directed to YJC by Chicago Community Learning Center (CCLC) and signed up for services, in what she describes as “honestly the best decision ever.”

Meagan and Sean, a young couple with big dreams and two children to support, launched their career journeys by utilizing the resources at YJC.

Kendall joined YJC three years ago as a high school student looking for a part-time job. Today, he’s an experienced JavaScript coder heading for a career in I.T.

Fresh out of high school and contemplating her future, Yasmine came to YJC with a general idea of where she wanted to go—college, a healthcare career—but unsure of what steps to take to get her there. Fortunately, YJC was able to get Yasmine everything she needed to put her plan into action.

Darius, a freelance web developer with ambitions to work in the public sector, tells us in his own words about his career journey and his experience with YJC.

Paige left her job at an Amazon warehouse to focus on her newborn son and to explore more fulfilling career options. So she signed up with YJC to get some support and guidance on her daunting but exciting new journey.

Kierra is a young mother and healthcare professional who hasn't followed a typical linear path.

Chloe had held jobs before, but when she came to YJC, she was looking for direction—a greater purpose for her path. After reading through YJC’s client success stories, she decided she wanted a success story of her own.

Demor graduated from high school in 2020, entering a job market—and a world—marked by upheaval and uncertainty. It got him off to a challenging start, and he bounced from one retail job to another until he discovered a professional passion: information technology (I.T.) 

Jasmine is a 23-year-old mother of three who was, in her own words, “ready for a change and a set future for my children and I!”

Ivan is a teenager from the southwest side of Chicago whose interests include music (he's a guitarist and has played in a mariachi group) and accounting (he's currently taking a course for dual credit at his high school). When he wanted to get a job, he reached out to Youth Job Center to start his journey.

“I grew up on the west side of Chicago around poverty and violence. Early on I knew I wanted to be more than a statistic and follow my dreams of a career in the healthcare field.” These are the words of Jekireya, our driven and remarkable client of the month.

Fatima grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan, where she excelled academically and enjoyed advocating for women’s rights. When she and her family moved to the U.S., however, Fatima found it understandably difficult to adjust. “I wasn’t used to using a computer, using the internet, or communicating with others constantly in English,” she shares.

Aleecia is a born-and-raised Chicagoan and oldest of four who lives with her mother and dog Oreo. She was working at a warehouse when a close friend told her about Youth Job Center. “I wasn’t myself before I started YJC, because I was trying to find my career path or figure out what to do with my future,” she says. “But YJC helped me build a brighter future for myself.”

Allana is a teenager from the south side of Chicago who enjoys playing softball, flag football, and violin. Last year, she decided she wanted to add “working a job” to that list of activities, but she wasn’t sure how to get started. When YJC sent information about our This Way ONWard program to Allana’s high school, it seemed like fate.

Ifunanya is a native of Lagos, Nigeria, who moved to the U.S. seven years ago in search of better education opportunities. Armed with a determined spirit and a passion for nursing, she joined YJC in 2022 to get help with completing her nursing education and finding employment. 

POSITION: Cardiac Telemetry Technician
EMPLOYER: University of Chicago Medicine

AGE: 24
POSITION: Patient Care Technician (PCT)
TRAINING PROVIDER: Patient Care Technician program, Tukiendorf Training Institute

AGE: 24
EMPLOYER: Walgreens
DATE EMPLOYED: October 2023

AGE: 20
POSITION: Associate
EMPLOYER: Chicago Food Stop
DATE EMPLOYED: July 2023

AGE: 21
POSITION: Kids and Baby Merchandising Specialist
EMPLOYER: Old Navy
DATE EMPLOYED: May 2021

AGE: 23
POSITION: Light Truck Driver
EMPLOYER: Garrett Popcorn Shops
DATE EMPLOYED: December 2020

AGE: 23
TRAINING PROGRAM: Commercial Driving License
SCHOOL: 160 Driving Academy
START DATE: January 2023

AGE: 24
TRAINING PROGRAM: Automotive 101
SCHOOL: Olive-Harvey College
START DATE: March 2023

AGE: 23
POSITION: Patient Escort
EMPLOYER: Northwestern Medicine
START DATE: May 2023