Helping high school students prepare for a promising future
The Obama Foundation partnered with Urban Alliance, a national youth development non-profit, to create the Obama Youth Jobs Corps (OYJC) in 2017 to increase access to economic opportunities for high school students in some of the most underserved communities in Chicago.
Since launching, Urban Alliance has provided more than 1,700 tenth and eleventh graders from Chicago Public Schools with job skills training and an additional 650 twelfth-graders with intensive workforce readiness training and paid internship experience at businesses through the city.
Over the next three years, Urban Alliance will expand programming to an additional 4,500 students across 10 Chicago Public Schools. The Alliance has a long history of partnering with leading businesses to provide paid, professional internships to high school seniors through its signature High School Internship Program. Opens in a new tab
Workforce Readiness Training
Sophomores
Eight workforce readiness training sessions throughout the tenth grade to lay the groundwork for future professional development. Sophomores receive training from Chicago educators who have participated in Urban Alliance’s Teacher Training Institute Opens in a new tab.
Weekly Workforce Development
Juniors
Weekly job skills training sessions discussing professional development, financial literacy, and post-highschool planning.
Paid, Professional Internship
Seniors
A 10-month paid internship through Urban Alliance’s High School Internship Program which combines work experience with job skills training, one-on-one mentoring, and support including post-high school planning and alumni support after the internship.
Interested students can apply on on Urban Alliance’s website. Opens in a new tab
Help change the life trajectories of thousands of young people, Opens in a new tab while generating benefits for your businesses.