Chicago Urban League Launches New Center for Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development Amid Rising Disparities in Black Chicagoans' Opportunities
In a bid to address deep-seated disparities between black and white residents, the Chicago Urban League has launched an innovative new center in the historically disadvantaged Chatham neighborhood. The Empowerment Center, which opened its doors on Friday, offers workforce development, entrepreneurship training, and youth programs aimed at fostering generational wealth and equitable opportunities across education, employment, homeownership, and other key areas.
The 15,000-square-foot facility was previously occupied by a Walmart Academy, used as a training center for the retailer's employees. The Chicago Urban League acquired the building through a donation from Walmart and has undergone significant renovations to create a vibrant hub for community empowerment.
"We have to reactivate this building for the community," recalled Karen Freeman-Wilson, president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, in reference to her initial hesitation about accepting the project. "The Empowerment Center is a new chapter of our mission, serving an area where more than 83% of residents are low- or moderate-income."
The center's offerings include workforce training in emerging areas such as dental hygiene, artificial intelligence, electric vehicle infrastructure, and electrification technology. The space will also feature meeting rooms for small-business owners and nonprofits, providing a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Freeman-Wilson emphasized the importance of health in achieving economic stability, stating, "Money and power mean nothing if you don't have your health." She highlighted the need for accessible healthcare services and training programs to equip residents with skills for success.
The launch comes at a critical time, as the Urban League's 2023 report revealed stark disparities between black and white residents in Chicago. According to the report, white residents' median household income is more than double that of black residents on average. The Empowerment Center aims to bridge this gap by providing resources and training programs tailored to the specific needs of Chatham's community.
The center's opening was welcomed by local officials, including 21st Ward Alderman Ronnie Mosley, who emphasized its potential to drive economic growth and empowerment among black businesses and residents. When asked about the significance of the Empowerment Center, he replied, "When we say, 'We're the Black businesses,' they're going to come out of this Empowerment Center. When we say, 'We're the Black homeowners,' they're going to come out of this Empowerment Center. When we say, 'We're the Black trades and careers,' they're going to come out of this Empowerment Center."
As the Empowerment Center embarks on its mission to uplift Chatham's community, it serves as a beacon of hope for residents seeking economic mobility and social justice.
In a bid to address deep-seated disparities between black and white residents, the Chicago Urban League has launched an innovative new center in the historically disadvantaged Chatham neighborhood. The Empowerment Center, which opened its doors on Friday, offers workforce development, entrepreneurship training, and youth programs aimed at fostering generational wealth and equitable opportunities across education, employment, homeownership, and other key areas.
The 15,000-square-foot facility was previously occupied by a Walmart Academy, used as a training center for the retailer's employees. The Chicago Urban League acquired the building through a donation from Walmart and has undergone significant renovations to create a vibrant hub for community empowerment.
"We have to reactivate this building for the community," recalled Karen Freeman-Wilson, president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, in reference to her initial hesitation about accepting the project. "The Empowerment Center is a new chapter of our mission, serving an area where more than 83% of residents are low- or moderate-income."
The center's offerings include workforce training in emerging areas such as dental hygiene, artificial intelligence, electric vehicle infrastructure, and electrification technology. The space will also feature meeting rooms for small-business owners and nonprofits, providing a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Freeman-Wilson emphasized the importance of health in achieving economic stability, stating, "Money and power mean nothing if you don't have your health." She highlighted the need for accessible healthcare services and training programs to equip residents with skills for success.
The launch comes at a critical time, as the Urban League's 2023 report revealed stark disparities between black and white residents in Chicago. According to the report, white residents' median household income is more than double that of black residents on average. The Empowerment Center aims to bridge this gap by providing resources and training programs tailored to the specific needs of Chatham's community.
The center's opening was welcomed by local officials, including 21st Ward Alderman Ronnie Mosley, who emphasized its potential to drive economic growth and empowerment among black businesses and residents. When asked about the significance of the Empowerment Center, he replied, "When we say, 'We're the Black businesses,' they're going to come out of this Empowerment Center. When we say, 'We're the Black homeowners,' they're going to come out of this Empowerment Center. When we say, 'We're the Black trades and careers,' they're going to come out of this Empowerment Center."
As the Empowerment Center embarks on its mission to uplift Chatham's community, it serves as a beacon of hope for residents seeking economic mobility and social justice.
OMG this is so exciting! I'm literally hyped for the black community in Chatham! The fact that Walmart donated this building is insane 
, now we can reactivate it for good instead of just training employees. Karen Freeman-Wilson is speaking truth 
when she says "Money and power mean nothing if you don't have your health" - we need access to healthcare services and training programs ASAP! The new center's focus on emerging areas like AI, electric vehicle infrastructure, and dental hygiene is genius 
. It's time for the 83% of low- or moderate-income residents in Chatham to take control of their economic futures 
! I'm all about this empowerment 
, let's get those black businesses thriving and create generational wealth 
!
just heard about the new center launched by the Chicago Urban League in Chatham neighborhood! I'm super hyped about this 
their focus on workforce development, entrepreneurship training, and youth programs is like totally needed in a community that's been historically disadvantaged 
i mean 83% of residents are low- or moderate-income? it's crazy how much work needs to be done to bridge the gap between black and white residents in Chicago 
but this center has some awesome initiatives like workforce training in emerging areas and meeting rooms for small-business owners, that's so cool 
i just hope they get enough resources to make a real impact 
What's up with the huge gap between white & black households in Chicago? Like 2x more income difference is insane 
I'm all for giving opportunities to underprivileged communities like Chatham. The Empowerment Center seems like a solid move, but is it enough? 
Do we need more programs or training to get people out of poverty?
.
Money can't buy happiness or good health, so let's get healthcare services out there & support people in building skills for success 
Like, seriously, can't they do better than this? It's like they took a random template from 2008 and just pasted it onto our page. 
And don't even get me started on the navigation. I mean, come on, 5 clicks to find out what's going on in Chatham? 
Can't we have some decent filtering or something? 
Like, a simple and intuitive design would be nice. Is that too much to ask? 
The Chicago Urban League just opened an awesome new center in Chatham called the Empowerment Center 
. It's so cool to see a community coming together like this!