Deputy Mayor Garien Gatewood (center) discusses Chicago’s March 20 hiring event, economic mobility, and community safety (Photo Credit: Vashon Jordan, Jr. Office of the Mayor).
Building on the success of the previous hiring event at Kennedy King College, which saw over 900 attendees connect with 30 employers and resulted in 150 on-site hires, the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety will host its next hiring event on Thursday, March 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at JLM Abundant Life (2622 W. Jackson Blvd.).
Attendees can look forward to a wide range of services and opportunities on-site. The KRA Corporation (Westside Job Center) will offer professional development and soft skills training to help individuals advance in their careers. Community violence prevention organizations will be present, providing valuable resources and support. Additionally, resume assistance and career guidance will be available to help participants move forward in their job search.
Representatives from 20 employers, including leading companies such as Coca-Cola, the Chicago Police Department, BMO Harris Bank, Illinois Tollway, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the United States Postal Service and Bally’s Casino, will be on hand to discuss job opportunities and connect with potential candidates.
The City of Chicago’s Deputy Mayor of Community Safety, Garien Gatewood, discussed the details of the hiring event, how the economic plan will support community safety and the motivation for the People’s Plan initiative.
Mayor Brandon Johnson (L) with Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood (R) (Photo Credit: Vashon Jordan, Jr. Office of the Mayor).
Marshelle Sanders: How did the connection with the JLM Abundant Life Community Center come about, and why is this area important for hosting the hiring event?
Garien Gatewood: We’ve been looking at various community areas that align with our People’s Plan for Community Safety. The first hiring event we held was in Englewood at Kennedy King College. We’ve examined several areas, and it’s important for us to approach safety with a layered strategy. A key part of that is being intentional about where we direct our resources. While we might not be targeting a specific block group, we’re focusing on communities that have experienced higher unemployment based on the data we’ve gathered. We want to be strategic about where we are and the partnerships we form.
Sanders: How did you feel about the results of last year’s hiring event, and what are your expectations for this year?
Gatewood: I’m very excited. The event at Kennedy King exceeded our expectations. Initially, we were expecting a few hundred people, but 1,200 signed up and over 1,000 showed up in person. We hired 150 people on the spot. Our partners at the Cook Workforce Partnership were amazing, and we’re excited about continuing this work under Mayor Johnson’s leadership. Every time you hold a successful event, you want to top it. So, this year, we’re hoping to hire 1,000 people because we’re doing five of these events throughout the year.
The Black Caucus recently held a large event at Malcolm X College, and they’ve been great partners, especially Chairwoman Stephanie Coleman. Our goal is to help people find jobs, create economic mobility, and improve safety across the city.
Sanders: What type of companies will be at the event, and is there an age range or any requirements for applicants?
Gatewood: We’ll have a variety of companies there, including city agencies, private companies, and nonprofits. The best part is that people can be hired on the spot. At our “Take Back the Block” event last year, we hired 40 people with local businesses in Auburn Gresham with Ald. Will Hall (6th). Our goal is to hold more hiring fairs, not just job fairs because we want to help people secure jobs right then and there.
Sanders: How do you believe the economic opportunities at these events will contribute to safety?
Gatewood: Economic mobility is one of the key pillars of our People’s Plan for Community Safety. We didn’t just look at crime numbers—we took a deeper dive into factors like school closures, rent burdens, access to healthcare and unemployment rates. By bringing employment opportunities into communities with high unemployment, we’re intentionally addressing these issues. We know that employment, paired with support services, can reduce violence because it helps people stabilize their lives. Creating economic opportunities is a big part of creating a safer city.
Attendees at a recent People’s Plan Hiring Event (Photo Credit: Vashon Jordan, Jr. Office of the Mayor).
Sanders: What do you say to people who may not feel ready for the job market or lack confidence in their ability to find a job?
Gatewood: I’d encourage them to show up. You never know what opportunities might be in front of you. If you told me three years ago that I’d be Deputy Mayor of the third-largest city in the country, I would have laughed! But here I am. So, don’t be afraid—there will be plenty of opportunities for everyone. And we have partners like the Cook Workforce Partnership and the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, who are dedicated to helping people prepare. For those with criminal justice involvement, we have an Office of Reentry that will provide resources too. Our job is to open doors for people and make sure they’re ready when those doors open.
Sanders: With warmer weather approaching, are there any additional precautions being taken to ensure safety downtown and throughout the city?
Gatewood: We focus on safety year-round, not just in the summer. Every night, I think about the safety of 2.7 million people in this city. We’ve expanded our violence intervention resources and victim services. The Chicago Police Department has the highest clearance rate for cases in recent years, and we’ve promoted 200 detectives to support that effort. Last year, we launched a robbery task force, which resulted in a 25% decrease in robberies across the city.
Additionally, we saw the lowest number of homicides since 2019. Of course, there’s still more work to do, and we’re committed to it. Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we’ll continue to work tirelessly to keep the city safe.
Sanders: Do you have any advice for individuals preparing for job interviews?
Gatewood: My advice is to be your best self—don’t be afraid and be confident in your abilities. Understand that there will be many opportunities at these events, so be ready to explore different employers. Know your worth and go in with a positive attitude.
To register for the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety hiring event on Thursday, March 20, please visit https://chicookworks.org/event/the-peoples-plan-hiring-event-2/.