55
Individuals Were Enrolled
Our enrollees are motivated to work hard and build healthy lives, but face multiple barriers to employment (2020)
82
Completed the Program
Our Production Assistants benefit from fieldwork, hard skills training, and personalized case management services to prepare them for the workforce (2020)
63
of Graduates Earned Jobs Related to Agriculture
Our graduates find jobs along Chicago’s food chain, gaining positions with urban growing facilities, wholesalers, retailers, and restaurants. The rest find positions in other important fields (2019)
71
of Graduates retained their first job post-graduation for at least 30 days
Our staff prepares graduates to find and keep quality jobs by simulating a real job experience during training, and troubleshooting job-related issues as they arise (2019)
24
Graduates Completed a Supportive Service Goal
Our Case Manager provides Production Assistants with referrals for services including assistance with housing, childcare, healthcare, and GED preparation (2019)
17
Individuals Experienced a Positive Legal Outcome
Our partnership with Cabrini Green Legal Aid helps our Production Assistants overcome what is most often the largest barrier to employment: criminal records (2019)
Growing Home adds immense value to our Chicago community. They work with a population that needs support and gives them the skills and training they need to become an asset to organizations like my own.
Dave Rand, COO & CO-FOUNDER, Local Foods
our employer partners
After completing our 12-week program, our Production Assistants begin careers all along Chicago’s food chain and beyond. With hands-on training in urban agriculture with transferable skills, they are prepared for positions at urban farms and growing facilities, at local food hubs, with grocers, at high-end restaurants as well as in construction & trade, customer services and further education. We collaborate with local, Chicago employers to help Production Assistants find jobs so they can support themselves and their families.
Food Service & Restaurant:
Kitchfix
Shake Shack
Brightwok
Chicago Pit Stop BBQ
Eataly
Protein Bar
One Off Hospitality-Publican Quality Meats
Sweetgreen
Specialty’s Café & Bakery
Nando’s
Retail & Grocers:
Local Foods
Jewel Osco
L & M Fine Foods
City Press Juice & Bottle
Whole Foods
Urban Agriculture:
Gotham Greens
Chicago Botanic Garden- Windy City Harvest
Herban Produce
The Urban Canopy
Food Manufacturing:
Koch Foods
Tovala
Farmer’s Fridge
Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery
Schulze and Burch Biscuit Co.
Manufacturing:
Food and Paper Supply Co.
SG360
Pactiv
Hospitality & Hotels:
Holiday Inn & Suites
Hotel Staffing Solutions
St. Jane Hotel
Healthcare:
SCR Medical Transportation
Building Maintenance & Construction:
Chicago Scaffolding Inc. (CSI)
Second Chance Renovations
Rebuilding Exchange