From Protest . . .      to Programs . . .        to .......

Economic Development and Employment Opportunities

In response to the glaring lack of minority participation on construction jobs and the growing tensions arising in various neighborhoods throughout Chicago, The Coalition for United Community Action-ORTC, Inc. (CU+CA) was founded in 1969.

When the demands of the neighborhoods were not met, CUCA protested and took to the streets demanding Equal Employment Opportunity for all citizens regardless of their race, ethnicity or gender. Yes, the 60's was definitely a period of unrest and protests.

During this period in history, there were numerous demonstrations demanding the right for the unemployed and underemployed to be able to earn a respectable and decent wage from unions and contractors in cities all across America. After taking to the streets protesting, holding sit-ins and demonstrations, the Chicago Plan was developed in 1970 as a result of these efforts. This voluntary recruitment, training and job placement Plan was chaired by Mayor Richard J. Daley, and included the Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council, the Building Construction Employers Association and the Coalition for United Community Action. The Plan functioned as a clearinghouse for community groups city-wide to screen, interview and recruit minorities for training and job opportunities with union apprenticeship programs and employment in the Chicagoland construction industry. In 1976, six years after establishing a working relationship with the officials of the various unions and contractors from the Chicago Plan, CUCA was given the leadership role in developing and implementing pre-apprenticeship programs for the City of Chicago.

From 1984 through 1992, CUCA developed and coordinated Pre-apprentice training programs for Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) residents citywide, working with the Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council. Successful program graduates were indentured with the Carpenters, Painters, Operating Engineers, Roofers, Electricians, and Plumbers as certified union apprentices with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training. Many now function as journey level construction workers, foremen, supervisors, and contractors. This training program, which was called the CHA/Chicago Plan, served as a model for the CHA's Step-Up program, which was highly acclaimed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In 1995, CUCA developed and coordinated a joint Apprenticeship Preparedness Training program (A.P.T.) for the Chicago Public Building Commission and the Chicago Public Schools. The program was housed at the Chicago Vocational High School (Airplane Hanger) and the classroom instructors were union certified journeymen. Forty-five Chicago Public School graduates successfully completed the program and were certified as first year apprentices by the Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training.

I am proud to inform you that our current programs include Project Upgrade, which was developed in 1994 for the State of Illinois. This skill enhancement program was designed to train minority and female construction workers for management and supervisory positions with contractors and unions in the Chicago construction industry. We also administer an entry level Apprenticeship Preparedness Training program to provide inner-city youths and young adults with little or no marketable skills, an opportunity to become building trade apprentices.

It has been very gratifying to have worked with so many outstanding people over the many years that had the same commitment, desires and goals as CUCA. So it gives me great pleasure to salute them for their efforts:

ELECTED AND APPOINTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATIONS, INDEPENDENT

CONTRACTORS, BLACK CONTRACTORS UNITED

SUBCONTRACTORS AND CONSTRUCTING CONSULTANTS,

AFRICAN AMERICAN CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

LABOR LEADERS AND OFFICIALS FROM THE CHICAGO AND

COOK COUNTY BUILDING TRADE UNIONS

MAJOR CONSTRUCTION USERS FROM BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS

COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES, CIVIC,

BUSINESS, EDUCATIONAL, GOVERNMENT AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS

For we have truly come a long way since the 60's and with God's help and your assistance and support we will go even further designing more training programs for the unemployed and underemployed in the Illinois construction industry.