Community Partner Highlight: YCCS West High School

Early King is the principal at YCCS West High School, which was recently acquired by Greater West Town Project (July 1, 2024). Early has a wealth of experience in education and has served as the principal at YCCS West since 2017.

YCCS West is a social justice-focused high school that encourages students to use their voices to empower and contribute to the well-being of their communities. Public speaking, advocacy, community service, and local engagement via partnerships with community service agencies and churches are all essential components of YCCS West programming.

Early first encountered GWTP when he was the Head of School at a startup program associated with Malcolm X College. He met Keisha Davis-Johnson, GWTP CEO, at Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) district meetings and toured GWTP in 2017. He was “so impressed by the Shipping & Receiving and Woodworking (programs), the whole operation was impressive. Job placement, everything you all do.”

Early believes “the merger (between YCCS West and GWTP) elevates the school community and provides more nurturing environments.” GWTP and YCCS West are aligned, utilizing a competency-based education model tha builds on student skills and prepares them for higher education and careers. This approach offers a more personalized, practical, and engaging learning experience, designed to address the unique needs of students facing barriers to employment and education. Early also has plans for YCCS West to implement some of GWTP’s programming, such as career pathway programs, specifically GWTP’s Allied Health, which currently offers Home Maker training and will soon include Nursing Assistant training. In the near future, YCCS West is excited to expand its IT and robotics/coding program and audio/video production center and hopes to integrate these programs with GWTP’s West Town Academy.

“GWTP serves the whole community, and we want YCCS West to do that as well. Being a part of GWTP will enable us to do that better.” GWTP looks forward to the flourishing of this partnership to better serve the community!

Donor Highlight: Polk Bros. Foundation

Greater West Town Project (GWTP) is delighted to spotlight Polk Bros. Foundation as a steadfast supporter of our programming. We had the pleasure of meeting with Channing Lenert, Polk Bros. Foundation's Program Officer, to discuss their impactful contributions to our community for this blog.

Since 1993, Polk Bros. Foundation has championed GWTP’s mission and programming via our Occupational Skills Training (OST) program, which provides Woodworking, and Shipping & Receiving training at no cost to participants. The Foundation and GWTP share a commitment to workforce development and community empowerment.

Channing named the Foundation’s enduring motivation to support GWTP over the years as being: the impact speaks for itself; over 80% of OST participants complete training and embark on successful careers. GWTP’s commitment to creating educational and economic opportunity aligns with Polk Bros. Foundation’s focus on fostering strong communities, particularly in workforce development. Channing appreciates GWTP’s large facility, adult basic education, and the program’s proactive approach to addressing barriers to training and employment, especially for the reentry population and those seeking opportunities in thriving industries. This work goes hand in hand with the Polk Bros. Foundation’s work building safe, cohesive, and strong communities.

“The mission of Polk Bros. Foundation is working to make Chicago a place where all people have the opportunity to reach their full potential, and the work that GWTP does perfectly exemplifies that.”

We are excited to continue our partnership with Polk Bros. Foundation and explore new avenues for collaboration. Thank you, Polk Bros. Foundation, for your unwavering support and belief in our mission!

Alum Highlight: Brilliance Swan

The Museum of Science and Industry recently launched a much-anticipated special exhibit, 007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond, with the help of a recent graduate of Greater West Town Project’s woodworking training, Brilliance Swan.

Brilliance Swan was looking for work when he was dropping off his nephew at Boys and Girls Club when he saw a flier for Greater West Town Project (GWTP). He already had some experience with shipping and receiving, so he was interested in the new challenge of learning woodworking. “I interviewed with Mr. White and Mr. Negron, they told him about career opportunities and how it could help me achieve goals in my life” said Brilliance in an interview for this blog.

He started training at GWTP and was quick to admit that, “I didn’t know what I was getting into with woodworking, but I soon came to learn about wood identification, shaping and molding, getting to know the saws, and all of that was entirely new to me.” Brilliance also learned the math skills needed for woodworking. He already had good math skills, but applying it to a career was new to him and a good refresher for his skills.

Towards the end of woodworking training, Brilliance met with Career Pathways staff to review different employment opportunities, including the Museum of Science and Industry. The Museum was a good distance from his home, offered good pay, and ultimately it was the decision he wanted to go with. Brilliance interviewed with the Museum and said, “The skills that I acquired from GWTP definitely helped with interview preparation, what employers look for, etc.”

Brilliance now works as a Project Crew Tech at the Museum of Science and Industry and hopes to continue his career there. When asked about any advice for people considering GWTP, Brilliance said, “GWTP has a multitude of opportunities, resources can help anyone in any aspect of their life to move forward with their career and their goals. I would highly recommend GWTP to anyone.” Congratulations, Brilliance!

Donor Highlight: John-Paul Paonessa

Greater West Town Project (GWTP) has been providing job training and placement services for 35+ years, and we recently held our first annual Pathways Luncheon where we raised nearly $12,000 and were joined by 50+ attendees from our various employer partners. We interviewed one of the donors from our Pathways Luncheon, John-Paul Paonessa, who works at an employer partner of GWTP and sponsor of the Pathways Luncheon, Freedman Seating Company. Since 2011, GWTP has referred or placed 23 participants to jobs at Freedman Seating Company.

John-Paul is the Marketing Manager at Freedman Seating Company, where he has worked for almost 10 years. Part of his position includes promoting and demonstrating Freedman Seating’s Community Connections core value, which is that “We build strong partnerships with community-based organizations that share in our commitment to education, training, and career opportunities in manufacturing.” Freedman Seating has recommitted to their core values as they celebrate their 130th anniversary this year, all while being family-owned and operated in Chicago since its founding. As part of his position, John-Paul often attends hiring events, where he first learned about GWTP.

When interviewed for this blog, John-Paul noted that, “We appreciate that GWTP is working with a diverse group of individuals and of all ages.” And having attended and donated at the Pathways Luncheon, he commented, “[The Pathways Luncheon] is a great idea. Get your partners in the room to re-establish why the work is important. Fortunately, community organizations are so important to Freedman Seating.”

John-Paul noted the strong alignment between GWTP and Freedman Seating in how we both prioritize diversity and engaging the community in our work. “Freedman wants to emphasize to the youth that manufacturing is a viable career path and there’s many ways to be successful,” said John-Paul. “Introducing youth to job training and the trades is so important. In our communities, college might not be a path for everyone, and that’s okay. We want to support those young people to be successful” said John-Paul. Thank you for all of your support, John-Paul!

Alum Highlight: Wardell Winfrey Jr.

Wardell Winfrey Jr. is a recent alum of GWTP, and is now working at Lakefront Roofing and Siding Supply. He recently shared his story at our Pathways Luncheon. His remarks from the event are below:

“Hello everyone and thank you for coming to this fundraiser for the Greater West Town Project. My name is Wardell Winfrey Jr. and I graduated from Greater West Town Project’s Shipping/Receiving training in 2020. I now work as a Manager of E-Commerce Shipping and Receiving, and Manager of Logistics at Lakefront Roofing and Siding Supply.

I learned about Greater West Town Project from a torn up advertisement on a southside train. I found their ad at just the right time in my life. I had been working as a contract worker for Waste Management for 5-6 years, but didn’t have the benefits or protections I needed for a long-term career. I was pounding the pavement looking for work, and even getting interviews, but I wasn’t getting any offers. That’s when I saw Greater West Town Project’s torn up advertisement on a southside train, when I needed a job most, and I decided to take a chance and see what their training was all about.

I started Shipping/Receiving training in the Winter of 2020 and I was immediately impressed. The staff were very responsive to the needs of participants, especially William Molina, Ricky White, and Linda Thomas. They were especially good at working with young people and people with a lot of barriers to employment and helping them to focus and redirect their energy towards work.

When I started training though, I was already an adult and used to a work environment. I’ve never been fired from a job and I’m very disciplined and reliable. Even though I didn’t have as many needs as other younger students, the staff still gave me the attention and training all while treating me like an adult. It was clear that they genuinely wanted to see me succeed and win.

Training was challenging and since it was unpaid, I had to get a job so I could provide for myself for those 12 weeks. I actually began working as a custodian at Greater West Town Project’s West Town Academy, shout out to Jeff for taking me on and being a great boss.

Those days in training and working were very long days. Towards the end of training, a couple of employers came to Greater West Town Project to see our training and meet some of the participants. The employers, several of whom are in this room today, respected Greater West Town Project and trusted in people who were trained there.

After 12 weeks, I had graduated and I was ready to work. I got an interview with one of the employers who had visited during training, Lakefront Roofing and Siding Supply. Molina let me know that they were great employers with kind people. He even gave me a ride to the interview and vouched for me to Lakefront. I interviewed for the position and this time I got the job. The position was just like what I had been doing in training, and after only two weeks I was put in charge of an entire department.

Now that I’ve been at Lakefront for four years, I’m looking to continue growing my career in shipping and receiving and shipping logistics and maybe even start my own business using my experience and training. If there’s one thing I would want the employers in this room to take away today, it’s that helping people to better themselves is good for workers, it’s good for families, but it’s also good for business. The challenges that we’re facing today can sometimes seem overwhelming, but taking one step today can lead to enormous change for you, your company, and our community. Thank you all for coming and supporting Greater West Town Project. Enjoy the rest of your day!”

Community Partner Highlight: META24

In 2015, Greater West Town Project’s Board Chair, Keith Muhammad, visited the Banner School in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago to see their new collaboration with META24. META24 launches 21st century learning labs in schools and community spaces across the country, with coursework in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) and a focus on entrepreneurship. When Keith saw their work in action, he knew GWTP’s West Town Academy (WTA) needed to partner with META24. GWTP’s Executive Director, Keisha Davis-Johnson, then visited a META24 lab at Community Youth Development Institute on the South Side of Chicago and agreed that WTA students could benefit greatly from META24.

The founder and CEO of META24, Dr. Flavian Prince, has worked in education for more than a decade as a teacher, administrator, and reform advocate. He began META24 as a way to teach core competencies in reading, writing, and math using innovative methods that would seamlessly map onto real-world skills and job opportunities. With this radical transformation of teaching and learning, META24 labs help to engage students who have not been successful in traditional learning environments, which makes them a perfect fit for GWTP’s West Town Academy and the communities we serve. In an interview for this blog, Dr. Prince explained that he “always had an affinity for students who dropped out.” And in regards to their partnership with GWTP, said, “I enjoy the staff, the culture, the kids. One thing I really appreciate about GWTP is the way that they’re identifying big picture problems or gaps and moving quickly to address them.”

META24 has grown tremendously since our first visit in 2015. META24 now has 71 learning labs with 150+ facilitators, and five different learning lab models that can fit into a wide variety of schools and community organizations. One key to their growth has been the recruitment and retention of facilitators of color, with 95% of their facilitators identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC).

In addition to their 21st century learning labs, META24 runs five brick and mortar storefronts for students to market and sell the products they design and create in the learning labs. WTA students participate in the MZUZI Community Store located at 5459 W Chicago Ave. Learn more and shop online at chuzmzuzi.com. You can learn more about META24 at meta24.org. Thank you META24 for all you do for our community and for your excellent partnership with GWTP!

Community Partner Highlight: West Town Health Market

In 2015, Greater West Town Project’s Board Chair, Keith Muhammad, visited the Banner School in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago to see their new collaboration with META24. META24 launches 21st century learning labs in schools and community spaces across the country, with coursework in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) and a focus on entrepreneurship. When Keith saw their work in action, he knew GWTP’s West Town Academy (WTA) needed to partner with META24. GWTP’s Executive Director, Keisha Davis-Johnson, then visited a META24 lab at Community Youth Development Institute on the South Side of Chicago and agreed that WTA students could benefit greatly from META24.

The founder and CEO of META24, Dr. Flavian Prince, has worked in education for more than a decade as a teacher, administrator, and reform advocate. He began META24 as a way to teach core competencies in reading, writing, and math using innovative methods that would seamlessly map onto real-world skills and job opportunities. With this radical transformation of teaching and learning, META24 labs help to engage students who have not been successful in traditional learning environments, which makes them a perfect fit for GWTP’s West Town Academy and the communities we serve. In an interview for this blog, Dr. Prince explained that he “always had an affinity for students who dropped out.” And in regards to their partnership with GWTP, said, “I enjoy the staff, the culture, the kids. One thing I really appreciate about GWTP is the way that they’re identifying big picture problems or gaps and moving quickly to address them.”

META24 has grown tremendously since our first visit in 2015. META24 now has 71 learning labs with 150+ facilitators, and five different learning lab models that can fit into a wide variety of schools and community organizations. One key to their growth has been the recruitment and retention of facilitators of color, with 95% of their facilitators identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC).

In addition to their 21st century learning labs, META24 runs five brick and mortar storefronts for students to market and sell the products they design and create in the learning labs. WTA students participate in the MZUZI Community Store located at 5459 W Chicago Ave. Learn more and shop online at chuzmzuzi.com. You can learn more about META24 at meta24.org. Thank you META24 for all you do for our community and for your excellent partnership with GWTP!

Donor Highlight: Donna Santell Cote

In 2005, Donna Santell Cote was ready for a well-earned retirement after 29 years in District 209, Proviso Township High Schools. Greater West Town Project’s then-Executive Director, Bill Leavy, gave her a call. Having gone to college with Bill, she welcomed the call.

“[Bill] asked me to come over to Greater West Town Project (GWTP) to help out with their West Town Academy (WTA).” Donna agreed, and for three years she worked part-time at GWTP to help establish WTA as a premier alternative school in Chicago. Donna helped to write curriculum and ensure all proper accreditation.

Once WTA became more established and resourced, Donna sought to secure a new part-time job to make her retirement more relaxing. In 2008, Donna started as an Assistant in Special Education at Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS), and 16 years later she is now the Director of Special Education at YCCS.

Donna made a donation to GWTP this past winter, and when asked about why, she said, “In my time at GWTP, I got to work with wonderful people, including [current GWTP Executive Director] Keisha Davis-Johnson who was a teacher then and Angie Gibson [current WTA Principal] who was then a student at WTA.” GWTP continues to benefit from the foundations that Donna helped to establish, in addition to her current financial contributions. Thank you Donna for all you do for our shared communities!