Please come down to the usual place–6146 S Kenwood–at 7 p.m. for another important meeting of the United Communities Jobs Campaign!
We’ll have some big issues to discuss, such as what steps we want to take in our future dealings with the University administration.
This will also be Duff’s last meeting for a while, so let’s all try to come out and wish him well!
We at the United Communities Jobs Campaign, an alliance of University of Chicago students and members of the surrounding communities, have been calling upon the University to take responsibility for its relationship with its closest neighbors. The best way to do this is through employment opportunities: the University generates and controls wealth, and it should use that wealth to create jobs for nearby residents.
Unfortunately, while the University has claimed (in meetings with our campaign) to be concerned with employment equity and outreach, their actions have not supported those claims. The latest in a series of setbacks is the impending closure of the Career Pathways Initiative, a Woodlawn job training program operated by the non-profit Cara group. The CPI was one of the few and imperfect attempts made by the Administration to provide employment services. If it disappears forever and is not adequately replaced, then the relationship between the University and its neighbors will suffer even more.
In light of these recent developments, we have decided that it’s time to act. We will aim to show the University that this is a real problem, not only for those members of the community who are denied job opportunities on campus, but also for students who see the injustice of the situation. And so we will be holding a *RALLY,* this Tuesday, May 24, at 4 p.m. After picketing for most of Monday and Tuesday, our action will culminate with speeches and the delivery to key University administrators of a letter stating our position and our demands.
Those demands are:
–We want University representatives to come out to our periodic job application fairs, so that they can see how many people come out and take up our offer of helping them through the arcane application system.
–We want a re-opened and improved version of the Career Pathways Initiative which, instead of filtering applicants around the University to other locations, will work to find them on-campus positions and thereby build direct bonds between the University and the surrounding communities.
–We want the University to sign a Community Benefits Agreement, which would set aside jobs for people from nearby South Side communities who are in need. This CBA would also include promises to offer more job training and increase outreach efforts.
The schedule for our event will be as follows:
–Sat., May 21: Community Meeting, 1-2 p.m., at the Living Room Cafe, 806 E. 64 St. in Woodlawn.
–Mon., May 23: Picketing from 9 a.m. til 5 p.m. outside the University offices at 61St. & Drexel. (We will also want to show solidarity with our friends in the Housekeepers’ coalition by supporting their march on Monday, and possibly staging a march of our own from the Admin building to 61 & Drexel.)
–Tues., May 24: Picketing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., then *Rally at 4 p.m.*
We would very much appreciate volunteers, student or otherwise, for the following tasks: picketing; watching over the ‘job application board’ (which will feature a collection of mock-applications put up by those who have applied unsuccessfully); handing out fliers to those leaving the parking garage at 61 & Drexel between 4 and 6 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday; helping to make signs (at the Saturday meeting or Monday morning at 61 & Drexel); and with any number of other random things that might pop up.
So please, if possible, pass this message on to your friends and colleagues, and try to make it out on Saturday, Monday, and *especially Tuesday* (at 4 p.m.) to show your support for employment equity at the University of Chicago!
Tomorrow–Sat., April 9–we’ll be holding our second application fair of the year. Last time around went really well, so hopefully we can build on that success this weekend.
Once again, we’ll be at the Bessie Coleman Library on 63rd St., just west of Cottage Grove, from about 12 Noon til 4 p.m.
If you’re a student who’s interested in making sure that their school has fair employment practices, come on down with a laptop and help some people navigate the online application system.
If you’re a resident of one of the communities bordering the University, come on down as well and we’ll help you get your resume out there so people can see it! Please, if possible, try to bring a resume along with you. If you do, it will speed up the whole process.
Also, don’t forget to sign our brand new online petition, located at: http://www.change.org/petitions/think-jobs-employment-equity-for-communities-neighboring-the-university-of-chicago#?opt_new=t&opt_fb=t
Alright, let’s get out there and get those jobs!
The United Communities Jobs Campaign will be meeting this Wednesday, March 30, at the usual spot–6146 S. Kenwood.
We will be discussing the details of our upcoming Job Application Fair, and we’re hoping to build on the success of the last one. We’ll also be discussing a bunch of other issues our committees have been working on over the last month.
Hope to see you there!
That’s right, the United Communities Job Campaign is about to hold a Job Application Fair in Woodlawn! We’re hoping to get as many people as possible out, so that we can fire off a huge batch of applications to the University of Chicago and the U of C Hospitals. It just doesn’t get much more proactive than this, folks–if we work together on Saturday, we might be able to hook some of the people from the surrounding communities up with great employment opportunities.
Here are the details:
Date: Sat. Jan. 29 (yes, this Saturday!)
Time: 12-4 p.m. (but feel free to come for whenever you can, if you can)
Place: Bessie Coleman Library (731 E 63 St.)
So if you’re interested in coming out to apply for a job, or in lending a helping hand by volunteering, please come on down! Saturday has a lot of potential–let’s not waste it!
It’s time to get 2011 off to a good start by coming out and getting down to business tonight! As usual, we’ll be meeting at 6146 S. Kenwood at 7 p.m. With a new year comes a fresh start, and I’m sure we’re all looking forward to meeting the goals we set for ourselves last year and thinking up new strategies for the new year.
The United Communities Job Campaign built up a lot of energy in 2010, so let’s keep that energy alive and we can take it to the next level!
The UCJC Christmas party, held last Thursday at the usual spot, was great fun for all–especially for Evelyn and Warren, who got to enjoy a special birthday peach cobbler, courtesy of Danny. (Luckily, there weren’t any trick candles this time!)
As usual for UCJC, everyone contributed something unique and helpful for the benefit of the group. Hopefully we can keep up that kind of teamwork after the holiday season, when we’ll be kicking the campaign into high gear.
Until then, here’s hoping that everybody has a great, rejuvenating Christmas. We’ll come back even stronger in 2011!
