Chicago, Illinois

About.
Since 2016 Thrive Chicago has been focused on opportunity youth. Thrive Chicago creates collaborative networks of people and data that accelerate innovation for Chicago’s youth. They are driven by community-led solutions, a disruptive belief in “better,” the gift of perspective, the potential of innovative thinking, and the fight for true equity.
Mission.
To create strategies that will increase household sustainable wages and connection to post secondary pathways that will lead to sustained employment while reducing and eliminating barriers
Participating Programs.
Participating City partners include CPS, City Colleges, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Mayor’s Mentoring Initiative, One Summer, and 100K Hiring Fairs
- City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey Education That Works
- Chicago Public Schools
- SOAR
- Microsoft
- 100,000 Opportunities Initiative
- Advocate Health Care
- Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
- Chicago Department of Family & Support Services
- CTA
- CVS Health
- GAP
- Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
- McDonalds
- SMASHOTELS
- City of Chicago
- Illinois Department of Human Services
- Illinois Department of Children & Family Services
- All Chicago
- International Youth Foundation
- Metropolitan Family Services
Number of Opportunity Youth in the City.
In 2016, Chicago had 60,000 opportunity youth, in 2018 the number had reduced to 47,500. It is predicted that this number will rise to 113, 900 opportunity youth in Chicago by the end of 2020.
Get Involved.
Is your company looking for new, innovative ways to increase hiring, retention, and advancement within your organization?