Spring 2007 Issue

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Contents

A Field that is Blooming: Careers in Landscaping and Horticulture
Do you have job seeking clients who could envision themselves designing a beautiful garden, landscaping the front yard, installing trees, shrubs and perennials? How about paving stone patios, maintaining lawns or constructing decks and fences? If so, landscaping and horticulture may be the field for them!

From Gray to Green: Chicago's Green Roofs
Have you ever looked at the top of your office building and envisioned what that old, dirty, black tar would look like with greenery, shrubs and plants growing everywhere? Mayor Daley had that vision, and now "Green Roofs" are here to stay.

Planting the Seeds for the Future: Educational Opportunities in Landscaping and Horticulture
Today's youth are a vital source of future workers for entry-level jobs and careers in landscaping and horticulture. Providing information to these youth, including exposure to employment opportunities and hands-on experiences within this field, lays the foundation for the workforce of the future.

The Greening Industry: Greencorps Chicago
Chicago's greening industry is alive and thriving according to Edde Jones, Program Director for the Greencorps Chicago. "Chicago's Landscape ordinance has helped create both interest and jobs in the landscaping industry."

Sprouting Roots: Social Enterprises in Landscaping and Horticulture
Growing Home and Chicago Christian Industrial League are providing job seekers with training, real work experience and the possibility of long-term employment opportunities in landscaping and horticulture.

 

Jackie Edens is the researcher for CJC’s Spring 2007 issue of Industry Insider. Jackie has over thirty years of experience in the areas of workforce development and human services. Jackie was Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development from 1998 until May of 2004. She also held the position of Executive Director of the Chicago Workforce Board from March 1998 to late 1999. Prior to that Jackie was the Assistant Commissioner of the Family Support Services Division (homeless services and domestic violence programs) for the Chicago Department of Human Services where she also held other positions dating back to 1976. Jackie has a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University in Psychology and has done graduate coursework at Roosevelt University and DePaul University. She has also just completed coursework as a Master Gardener from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Julie Wilen is the writer for CJC's Spring 2007 and Fall/Winter 2006 issues of Industry Insider. Julie has more than a decade of experience in workforce development working most recently as the Assistant Commissioner of Programs at the City of Chicago's Mayor Office of Workforce Development. In addition, she has researched and written large-scale reports for the Mayor's Office and grant proposals for various workforce development entities. Julie has a B.S. in Communications from Northwestern University and a J.D. from the University of Illinois-Champaign.

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Past Industry Insiders

• Winter 2007 – Culinary Arts
• Spring 2007 – Landscaping
• Fall/Winter 2006 – Manufacturing
• Summer 2006 – Healthcare
• Spring 2006 – Retail
• Fall 2005 – Transportation, Warehousing, and Logistics
• Summer 2005 – The Hospitality Industry