Focus donates $25,000 to local Revolution Workshop to mark 25 years of business in Chicagoland
15 March 2019
February 15th, 2019 - As a way to commemorate Focus’ 25th year of business in Chicagoland, Focus founder and owner, Tim Anderson, was joined by employees for a visit to Revolution Workshop to present a $25,000 donation to the local non-profit workforce development group. A check presentation was followed by a Q&A with the newest cohort of 21 Revolution Workshop students and Focus construction employees who spoke about the demands and rewards of working in the construction industry. Following, Focus volunteers had the opportunity to meet with the Revolution Workshop leadership team and discussed how Focus can further its involvement with the organization.
Focus chose to partner with Revolution Workshop as part of its commitment to serve the communities where we work. Located in the 28th Ward, Revolution Workshop pulls students from within the community, as well as from the surrounding neighborhoods, to participate in their free workforce development program. Their demand driven approach aims to address the current labor shortage in the construction market, while also helping those who are unemployed or underemployed to realize financial independence through succesSFul careers in the trades. Their 10-12 week accredited program is built on a robust curriculum which includes training in carpentry and woodworking, as well as job-readiness skills such as financial literary and interviewing skills. Targeting those who may not have access to the opportunities they need to tranSForm their lives, the program is intentionally kept small and targets carpentry placements at the apprentice level with wages of $15-$17 per hour.
Focus is dedicated to further the partnership and continue to dedicate time and resources with identified areas of continued involvement including marketing consulting, constructionsite visits, opportunities to interact with Focus site employees, mock interviews with both Human Resources and Construction professionals and providing support with their upcoming fundraiser and events.
To learn more about Revolution Workshop please visit: http://www.revolutionworkshop.org/
