In today’s economy, as more people are finding themselves on the other side of the workforce, or unemployed, Microsoft is reconfirming its commitment to ensuring that people have the tools and the skills to be a more productive citizen and a better
In today’s economy, as more people are finding themselves on the other side of the workforce, or unemployed, Microsoft is reconfirming its commitment to ensuring that people have the tools and the skills to be a more productive citizen and a better employee.
Microsoft understands the importance of technology job skills in today’s downsizing economy. In the last five years, Microsoft has given and matched employee gifts totaling more than $85.9 million in cash, curriculum and software to nonprofits throughout Illinois that help people in underserved neighborhoods gain workplace skills.
“It’s our goal at Microsoft to make sure that everyone has access to develop the technology skills needed to compete in today’s work environment,” said Shelley Stern, Microsoft’s citizenship director for the Central Region.
In November, reports showed that the U.S. shed about 533,000 jobs and unemployment is at a 15-year high at 6.7 percent. People who once felt their jobs were secure are now seeing them slip away. And according to reports by the U.S. Labor Department jobless figures for African Americans totaled a staggering 10.6 percent in November, compared to 4.3 percent for white Americans. Now more than ever, during these economically rough times, it’s important that people have the skills necessary to stay competitive.
By partnering with organizations like the Chicago Urban League, Microsoft wants to ensure that people possess the knowledge needed to be a more productive citizen and better employee, while also fostering entrepreneurship among diverse communities.
“One of the Chicago Urban League’s goals is to connect low-wage workers and people with little or no work experience to good-paying jobs,” said Cheryle R. Jackson president and CEO, Chicago Urban League.
“We provide access to training in fast-growing fields, such as information and communications technology. In Chicago’s underserved communities, business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs need support to drive innovation and create economic opportunities for themselves and jobs for others.”
The Chicago Urban League has worked to address these challenges through projectNEXT. projectNEXT is the Urban League’s economic development program launched in 2007. Through projectNEXT, the Urban League is providing entrepreneurship and workforce development programs, expanding commercial real-estate development opportunities and advocating for improved educational resources in the African American community.
The success of projectNEXT is stimulated by support from corporate partners such as Microsoft. Both Microsoft and the Urban League believe that empowering individuals and businesses economically can transform entire communities.
Through its Unlimited Potential grant, Microsoft has donated more than $2.6 million in software and cash to help fund digital literacy and computer skills programs within projectNEXT.
Recently more than 60 people learned how to use Microsoft Office productivity software at the Urban League Digital Learning Centers downtown and on the South Side.
The Digital Learning Centers are designed to help people learn the skills they need to compete in today’s work environment. The Digital Learning Centers offer courses designed to help adults receive the necessary training in Microsoft products to be candidates for future employment. Once the jobseekers have completed the program, they are certified and then they move on to a workforce development program for further assistance with resume writing, the interview process, job readiness and any further coaching needed to find a job.
“We recently enrolled over 7,000 new members into projectNEXT through a partnership with local churches,” said Jackson. “This influx of new members has brought additional attendees to our Digital Learning Center and other programs we offer. Through our Partners in Faith program, new members are offered free courses which include Microsoft software training and other career development classes.”
The teamwork that exists through corporations like Microsoft and nonprofit organizations such as the Urban League is just one example of how public/private partnerships come together to empower the community and promote social change.
“We are pleased to partner with great organizations like the Chicago Urban League,” said Stern. “We hope that through partners like the Urban League that we are able to give back to diverse communities in which we work, live and do business.”
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