ComEd’s CONSTRUCT Youth Academy expands in
second year to prepare more area youth for roles in the growing
clean energy field
ComEd, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and Goodwill Greater
Milwaukee & Chicago today hosted a graduation event for 89
teens who have completed summer job training that prepared them for
emerging career opportunities in the clean energy and construction
fields.
Through the CONSTRUCT Youth Academy program, ComEd and its
partner agencies are expanding access to training for local teens
interested in careers in the fast-growing energy sector. Expanding
training for local youth and job seekers is critical to preparing
communities for the expected future job growth, with a recent study
finding that the clean energy transition could add as many as
150,000 jobs in Illinois by 2050.
"With the clean energy transition set to create thousands of
jobs in the years ahead, programs like CONSTRUCT Youth Academy are
essential to creating pathways for more diverse local youth to join
the utility field and to prepare our communities for a cleaner
energy future," said Melissa Washington, Senior Vice President
Of Customer Operations and Strategic Initiatives at ComEd.
“Through collaboration with incredible partners at the YMCA,
Goodwill and numerous other agencies in the region, ComEd is
expanding training programs to expose the next generation of
leaders to knowledge and technology needed to unlock good-paying
jobs in our fast-growing field."
During the three-week program, rising high school juniors and
seniors learn about the wide range of careers in energy, from
entry-level craft positions to roles in STEM, engineering and more.
Students also have the chance to connect with industry leaders,
visit ComEd training facilities, and receive demonstrations on the
latest technologies used by the energy company, like drones and
electric vehicles.
ComEd launched the CONSTRUCT Youth Academy last year as part of
its plan to build a pipeline of skilled and diverse talent needed
to meet the evolving demand for clean energy and strengthen our
power infrastructure in the face of increasingly severe weather
tied to climate change. In partnership with the local YMCA and
Goodwill, ComEd expanded training to five sites in Chicago,
including a new site in Palatine. This allowed for a significant
expansion of the program this year, up from 21 participants last
year. Reflecting the diversity of ComEd’s service territory, over
95 percent of program participants are people of color, and a
quarter of them are girls.
"There is no greater privilege than to empower young people to
envision a future that they otherwise may never envision for
themselves," said Martina "Tina" Hone, Chief Economic Inclusion
& Equity Officer, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. "The
CONSTRUCT Youth Academy provided that opportunity to dozens of
young people this summer, and our team is incredibly grateful to
have been able to deliver this program at the YMCA again this year,
alongside our phenomenal partners at ComEd and Goodwill."
This year, students participated in a community service event
assembling dressers for people in need. Two participants from last
year’s cohort also served as mentors throughout the program,
providing the opportunity to develop their leadership skills while
offering support to those who are now in their shoes. The CONSTRUCT
Youth Academy is set to return next summer, with applications to
open in the spring.
“At Goodwill, we are committed to joining partners like ComEd
and the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago to open the door to
opportunities for young Chicagoans,” said Clayton Pryor, Chief
Mission Officer, Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago. “We
are proud to be part of this effort by providing an additional
program access point and skills training that empowers students to
confidently enter a STEM or trade-focused career following
graduation. We look forward to continuing helping this next
generation of changemakers unlock their potential and build a
foundation for continued success, career advancement and
self-sufficiency.”
“This program opened my eyes to new possibilities,” said
Gabriel Gaytan, Jr., CONSTRUCT Youth Academy graduate.
“During the program, I decided I want a future job at ComEd, but
every time we would learn about a new career I would change my mind
about what I wanted to do. I can’t remember the last time I was
this excited about the future.”
CONSTRUCT Youth Academy builds on the award-winning CONSTRUCT
Infrastructure Academy, ComEd’s premier workforce development
program for adults looking to gain the skills needed for
entry-level roles in construction and the utilities. To date, the
program has graduated nearly 900 residents, with a majority of
participants from diverse communities, and a more than 70 percent
job placement rate.
The CONSTRUCT Youth Academy program is one example of ComEd’s
expanding STEM education and workforce development programs, which
last year reached more than 2,000 local residents. In partnership
with agencies and community organizations across the region, ComEd
is expanding training opportunities for local youth and residents
to help prepare for expected talent needs in the years ahead. For
more on ComEd’s education and career training offerings, 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, Twitter,
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 Greater Milwaukee & Chicago
Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago
enhances dignity and quality of life for all by strengthening
communities, eliminating barriers to opportunity, and connecting
people to valuable employment and community resources. Among a
network of more than 150 Goodwill organizations in North America,
the nonprofit organization serves a 23-county territory across two
states – Illinois and Wisconsin. Learn more about Goodwill’s
mission – Connecting people to work. Preparing people for life. –
and find a Goodwill near you at www.goodwillchicago.com. Find
Goodwill on Facebook (facebook.com/goodwillsewmc), YouTube
(@GoodwillSEWMC), and X and Instagram (@AmazingGoodwill).
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