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NORTH LAWNDALE — A hiring event is giving North Lawndale residents top priority for the jobs being created at the mixed-use Ogden Commons development.
Most jobs being recruited for Ogden Commons will be in the hospitality industry for restaurants, cafes and other businesses that will open at the commercial, residential and health center.
North Lawndale Employment Network is hosting a virtual hiring event 10 a.m. Saturday. At least 100 people will be recruited at the event. Register online to attend.
Participants who join the hiring event will be supported by North Lawndale Employment Network. The nonprofit is offering training geared towards the hospitality recruitment event, as well as access to the organization’s job readiness and workforce development programs, said Jacqueline Hawkins, interim chief program officer for North Lawndale Employment Network.
“We’re assisting folks with training, with resume preparation, with being prepared for the interview and with sector-specific training that will give them an inside look at what’s involved. We’re meeting people with all skill levels, with all backgrounds,” Hawkins said.
The hiring event will have opportunities for entry-level through senior-level roles in the hospitality industry, Hawkins said, and all jobs are eligible for benefits. Due to the North Lawndale Employment Network’s commitment to creating opportunities for people who have barriers to employment, the openings are also friendly to people who have a criminal background.
Ogden Commons is a development spearheaded by the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council as part of the neighborhood’s collaborative quality-of-life plan to improve issues like health, safety and the local economy. The project will bring a grocery store, an outpatient health center, affordable housing, a community museum, restaurants and retail space to the neighborhood.
As a member of the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council, the North Lawndale Employment Network is creating a pipeline to connect qualified residents with employers to make sure the people living in the neighborhood are the first to benefit from the development.
“We want to give them a little bit of a leg up and equip them with a toolbox to make sure they’re successful,” said Brenda Palms Barber, CEO of North Lawndale Employment Network. “We’re looking for good jobs for good people.”
Pascal Sabino is a Report for America corps member covering Austin, North Lawndale and Garfield Park for Block Club Chicago.
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