Representatives from prominent corporate organizations – including Bank of America, Google and Northwestern Hospital – networked with 70 Chicago Housing Authority college students Wednesday to discuss career opportunities at the Take Flight Networking & Recruitment event at CHA offices.
Sponsored annually by CHA nonprofit partner Springboard to Success (S2S), the event is a check-in designed to help CHA college students connect with those who provide internship and employment opportunities. More than a dozen corporate representatives spoke to students about their own careers and offered counsel in a panel discussion on how to stay afloat in the college world – financially and otherwise.
Among the representative organizations that participated:
- Bank of America
- UPS
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital
- Rush Medical Center
- RSM
- State of Illinois
- Baker Tilly
- Gallagher Insurance
- HUSarchitecture
- Metropolitan Family Services
- Presbyterian Homes
- Hyatt
- CHA HR
The students included S2S scholarship winners and previous participants of the S2S-sponsored “Take Flight College Send-Off” trunk party, which happens every August. All were provided a free professional headshot, free resume assistance and a chance to win one of five $200 gift certificates to their respective campus bookstores.
CHA also provided information on the S2S Scholarship, which opens its application period on Jan. 30, and reminded students of their free access to college counseling services provided by CHA’s Education Specialists.
Students were also told of their free access to classes at City Colleges of Chicago (CCC). Each summer, dozens of CHA students attending four-year institutions locally and nationwide attend CCC, transferring credits to their college. It allows these students to graduate quicker and with less debt.
