CHA College Scholars ‘Take Flight’

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Education

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Education

By: Ashmar Mandou

Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) college scholars participated in “Take Flight: Staying the Course” where scholars had the opportunity to meet with 19 big-name firms last week. The firms, including Kellogg’s, BMO Harris Bank, and Walmart spoke to the students about their careers and offered counsel in a networking session. Lawndale Bilingual Newspaper spoke with Cassie Brooks, CHA’s Education Specialist, who oversees the program, to talk about the mission behind “Take Flight: Staying the Course.”

Lawndale Bilingual News: In your own words, describe to me the objective of “Take Flight: Staying the Course?”
Cassie Brooks: Take Flight: Staying the Course is about helping CHA students who are currently in college or recent grads connect to professional opportunities with Chicago employers. CHA provides grant aid to our students through the CHA Scholarship and our Partners in Education program with the City Colleges of Chicago, but our support doesn’t stop at graduation.  Events like Take Flight: Staying the Course help students build their professional network, and connect with employers and paid internship providers, so students can use their degrees and find a job in their chosen field.

How has the program helped CHA college scholars?
We’ve had students – like Kierra Russell – land their first full-time job through connections made at the event. Further, for students who are currently in college, they are connected to opportunities to maximize their summer; like paid Summer internships or they can take up to 2 Summer classes through our Partners in Education program at City Colleges, which covers tuition, books and fees, offering the opportunity to complete college quicker and with less debt.  

What would you like prospective CHA college scholars to know about “Take Flight: Staying the Course?”  
One of the things I’d want students to know about Take Flight: Staying the Course is that CHA has support no matter where a student is in their post-secondary path. We are so proud of our residents who make the leap to go to college and we want to ensure they know they are not alone in their effort to obtain a college degree and find a job in their field.  As a low-income college student it takes grant aid to get to graduation and good network to land a job in your field, CHA provides programs and events to extend both to our residents.

Photo Caption: CHA college scholars meet with big-name firms to discuss internship and employment opportunities last Tuesday during “Take Flight: Staying the Course.”

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