Obama Foundation announces new job training program for Chicago students

The Obama Foundation announced a new jobs partnership this week to help train South Side high school students in Chicago.

The Obama Youth Jobs Corps will prepare high school students for economic independence, ABC 7 Chicago reported on Thursday.

The plan is for students to get real-world experience in workshops, mentorships and paid internships.

{mosads} Some valuable lessons can only be learned through hands-on work experience, said Michael Strautmanis, vice president of civic engagement for the Obama Foundation.

“There were a lot of those kind of soft skills that we didn’t get a chance to learn at home, and so we had to learn them on the job,” Strautmanis said.

Rozzie Cribbs interned with Walgreens E-Commerce through Urban Alliance, a national youth development nonprofit.

“We discussed, you know, dress attire, career path, choosing your college and also financial literacy,” he told ABC 7.

His internship made him want to major in graphic design and computer science, Cribbs said. He will be the first member of his family to go to college. 

In January, Obama picked Chicago as the site of his future presidential library and announced plans for a 235-foot tall museum, community athletic center and outdoor plaza.

Former first lady Michelle Obama was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. That’s where the couple met and lived in the Kenwood neighborhood until Barack Obama’s presidency.