Chicago — Twenty-eight high school students from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) just took a big step toward launching bright careers.
The students and their families came to the Peoples Energy Training Center in Little Village to celebrate their completion of a training program called Bright Futures U. The program is a joint initiative between CPS and Peoples Gas that provides classroom and hands-on experience in the energy industry. Students who complete the training have jobs waiting for them when they graduate high school.
The students are CPS high school seniors from across the city. They started in Bright Futures U last year and worked their way through multiple levels of paid training and summer internships.
Most — if not all — of the students will be offered positions as Peoples Gas project workers, with starting dates after their high school graduation. The jobs are union positions with good pay, and room to move up in the company. Another 40 CPS students are in earlier stages of the program.
“These young men and women are learning skills that can be the foundation for careers,” said Laura Budzinski, manager — technical training for Peoples Gas. “Our partnership with Chicago Public Schools is a unique way to invest in students’ futures and strengthen our communities with a workforce that reflects all who live here.”
“Chicago Public Schools is pleased to collaborate with recognizable and respected partners in the skilled trades to help high school students gain experience with our area’s strongest employers,” said CPS’ Chief of College and Career Success Dr. Megan Hougard. “Our goal is to ensure that our graduates leave the District with every opportunity possible to succeed in college, careers and civic life.”
“This program trains local students for good-paying jobs and lifelong skills,” said Sean Gaurige, business manager of Local 18007 Gas Workers, the union that represents Peoples Gas project workers. “These young Chicagoans are learning work that’s critical to Chicago’s energy system and to expanding economic opportunity across all of our city’s neighborhoods.”
Bright Futures U is one of several training programs Peoples Gas offers to develop the local workforce and offer career-track jobs to Chicagoans.