CJC Fall Fundraiser Recap

On Tuesday October 17th, CJC celebrated with members, partners, and supporters at our Fall Fundraiser at Midwest Coast Brewing. Guests arrived decked out in their best cozy fall attire (ie, lots of flannel, earth tones, and fun, leafy patterns). Unlike the Annual Meeting we hold each year, this was a night of casual fun and networking with guests from across the field of workforce development. It’s a chance to kick back, catch up with old friends and colleagues, and make new connections. This was our 5th fall fundraiser, and we’re thrilled to say that we raised an increase of 125% compared to last year. This was the most money we ever have at this event, which supports our work in reimagining the workforce system to best serve the people who need jobs the most.

Guests enjoyed food from Twisted Eggroll and dessert from Alonti. Supporters donated to our Wishboard for an opportunity to win raffle prizes from organizations like Metric Coffee Co., Four Star Mushrooms, the Chicago Sky, Candlelight Concerts, and more. And CJC CEO Dr. Lisa Bly-Jones spoke about the narratives surrounding work and the labor market, and why we keep fighting not just for jobs but for good quality jobs, in addition to providing updates on what CJC has been up to lately.

“When we keep job seekers at the center of everything we do, recognizing them as whole, creative, and resourceful people who offer the workplace a unique set of skills they already possess, we can begin to change harmful narratives. We want all employees to thrive. Let’s remain mindful of how we talk about our work and how we talk about the people we serve, and let’s be bold enough to BE the change we want to see!” - Dr. Lisa Bly-Jones, Ed.D

Thank you to our hosts at Midwest Coast Brewing, to all our raffle donors, as well as to our event sponsors: Chicago Community Loan Fund, Community Assistance Programs, NTG Inc, Origami Works Foundation, and Revolution Workshop. Most of all, thank you to our supporters who made the night a truly memorable event - we couldn’t do this without you.

We’re already looking forward to next year!