Congratulations To Year Up Chicago for Continued Success
Whereas, in 2000, Gerald Chertavian founded Year Up in Boston, Massachusetts with a mission to close the Opportunity Divide by providing urban young adults with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education. Year Up envisions a future where every urban young adult will have access to the education, experiences, and guidance required to realize his or her true potential; and
Whereas, Year Up holds six core values to guide all aspects of its work: (i) respect and value others; (ii) build trust, be honest; (iii) be accountable; (iv) engage and embrace diversity; (v) strive to learn; and (vi) work hard and have fun; and
Whereas, throughout its distinguished history, Year Up's high expectations, high support model provides low-income young adults, ages 18-24, with a combination of hands-on skill development, college credits, and corporate internships; and
Whereas, Year Up's accomplishments include: (i) 100% placement of qualified students into internships; (ii) over 90% of corporate partners would recommend the Year Up program to a friend or colleague; (iii) 85% of graduates are employed or attending college full-time within four months of completing the program; and (iv) employed Year Up graduates earn an average of $15 per hour - the equivalent of $30,000 per year; and
Whereas, Year Up graduated its first class of 22 students in 2002 and today, has expanded to eleven sites across the country. Nationally, Year Up has served nearly 10,000 young adults on their path toward self-sufficiency; and
Whereas, in 2010, Year Up Chicago opened its doors and in 2012, expanded its capacity to effectively double in size. In 2013, Year Up Chicago served a total of 254 participants, and in 2014, expects to serve nearly 300 young adults throughout the Learning and Development phase, the Internship phase, and beyond program completion as alumni; and
Whereas, Year Up Chicago celebrates the accomplishments of the graduating class with a vision for the future that honors its past, celebrates its present successes, and eagerly invites future partners; now, therefore,
Be it resolved, that we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this 30th day of July, 2014, do hereby commend Year Up Chicago for its unsurpassed contributions in closing the Opportunity Divide and for its efforts to enable low-income young adults to go from poverty to professional careers in one year, do hereby extend to Year Up Chicago our best wishes for continued success; and
James Cappleman, Alderman 46th Ward
Be it further resolved, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Board of Directors as a token of our appreciation and esteem.