On June 19th, 2025, JARC will relocate its headquarters to the new Aspire Center in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, a move that will significantly enhance its impact on the community. The Aspire Center is a joint effort by the Westside Health Authority and Austin Coming Together, to convert a vacant building which formerly housed an elementary school (Emmett Public School, at 5500 W. Madison), into a hub of organizations dedicated to education, health, and community development.
Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together and board member at JARC, expressed his excitement about the new Aspire Center, saying, “This is sending a message to our community to let them know that they are valuable, and their lives do mean something, and they can be whatever it is they aspire to become.”
”“In essence, the Aspire Center, with JARC’s involvement, is intended to be a hub that provides Austin residents with the tools and support they need to thrive, contributing to a more prosperous and equitable community,” he explained.
Adonis SummervilleJARC’s Director of Advanced Manufacturing
In keeping with the organization’s mission of ensuring working people do not live in poverty, JARC has been focusing on Chicago’s West Side – an area with a high rate of poverty and unemployment – for over a decade. In fact, 20% of JARC’s trainees have come to us from the West Side. In the new space, JARC will be able to expand program offerings, invest in the most up-to-date equipment and enroll more students. Volunteers, staff, and trainees have expressed excitement and optimism regarding the move. Many come with a wealth of understanding of why JARC’s presence will be important for the community.
As of 2022, 27.5% of Austin residents lived in poverty, and 10.7% lived in extreme poverty.
While manufacturing jobs represent the largest employment sector in Chicago, only 6% of Austin residents work in that sector. Adonis Summerville, Director of Advanced Manufacturing, grew up in the Austin neighborhood.
The new location at the Aspire Center will offer Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and Manufacturing Bridge programs. There are also plans to potentially offer a new robotics program. With 7,040 square feet of manufacturing, classroom, and office space, JARC will be able to better serve the West Side by offering more opportunities to more individuals hoping to establish careers in the manufacturing industry.
Contact: Andrea Tovar, Director of Marketing & Communications – JARC
Phone: (773) 751-7120
Email: andreat@jane-addams.org
Emily Doherty, Vice President of client services at JARC, expressed her optimism for the potential impact the organization’s presence would have on the Austin neighborhood for generations to come. “Workforce development doesn’t just result in employment,” she said. “It results in homeownership, higher education for future generations, and lifting families out of poverty.” Emily and the rest of the team at JARC look forward to the Aspire Center’s grand opening. For more information, follow JARC on social media @jarctraining, and consider donating to our efforts at https://jarctraining.org/donation/.
RSVP Required for the Grand Opening: http://bit.ly/3ZiCzq5
Recent Comments