CHICAGO (WLS) — A celebration got underway at Madison and Central on Thursday.
The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation celebrated its official opening, becoming a central hub in Austin where various agencies will provide services such as job training, financial coaching, and support for small business development.
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It is meant to help people on the West Side find and maintain good-paying jobs to better support their families and communities.
The building itself was a Chicago Public Schools school.
In contrast, back in 2013, Emmet Elementary shut down, prompting some members of the Austin community to come together and plan for the area’s needs. Jacqueline Reed played a pivotal role in this initiative.
“The name Aspire Center perfectly captures our aspirations for greatness. We believe that greatness runs in our blood, and it is our responsibility to showcase our excellence to create a lasting legacy for future generations,” she expressed enthusiastically.
It took seven years to bring this concept to life with leaders of Austin Coming Together and the Westside Health Authority.
The idea is to bring solutions to address some of the challenges on the West Side.
“The door was slammed on us when the school closed, but with the support and help of our ancestors and these incredible leaders, we have not only busted this door wide open. We are creating more opportunities,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“It was important to people in the neighborhood that this development is built by community members and from a community plan,” said Morris Reed with Westside Health Authority.
Dr. Jacqueline Robinson was the principal at Emmet Elementary.
“The Austin community, they know their mission and they have their vision. And now, I see, as the world sees, we are implementing our vision. This is a new day and new era,” Robinson said.
This could have become another example of a disinvestment in the West Side. Instead, new trainees from the neighborhood start programs next week.
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