Find your Purpose and
Unlock your Dreams

Westside Health Authority SC2 (Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago) Workforce Development program offers a comprehensive approach to job readiness providing guidance and support every step of a person’s journey.

Whether you are seeking to obtain employment, learn a skill with the intentions of obtaining a career, or join a trade program to get certified. This model is designed to meet your needs holistically. You will benefit from personalized coaching, skill building, workshops, and resources tailored to facilitate long term success. offers a comprehensive approach to job readiness providing guidance and support every step of a person’s journey.

workforce development

Whether you are seeking to obtain employment, learn a skill with the intentions of obtaining a career, or join a trade program to get certified. This model is designed to meet your needs holistically. You will benefit from personalized coaching, skill building, workshops, and resources tailored to facilitate long term success. offers a comprehensive approach to job readiness providing guidance and support every step of a person’s journey.

Timeline

Our SC2 Workforce Program is 10 Weeks in total 8 weeks will consist of training etc. the final two weeks will consist of finding employment or registering for a hard skill-based program/apprenticeship.

Programming

  • Week 1

    Expectations and goals;
    Getting to know yourself;
    What is your interest;
    Email 101; etc.

  • Week 2

    Barriers and obstacles;
    Smart Money Goals FDIC;
    Skill matching;
    Self-Motivation; etc.

  • Week 3

    Branding;
    Be comfortable with being uncomfortable;
    Resume development;
    and online applications

  • Week 4

    Key words in resumes;
    Job search engines;
    researching employer’s websites to review job descriptions

  • Week 5

    Mock Interviewing;
    Practice makes perfect;
    Affirmations to yourself etc.

  • Week 6

    Getting the job;
    Always punctual;
    First 90 Days;
    NO Cellphones at work etc.

  • Week 7

    Developing a strong work ethic;
    Conflict resolution;
    Dealing with stress;
    Budgeting 101 etc.

  • Week 8

    What is Purpose;
    Long term goal setting;
    Building your foundation;
    Hard skill Programs meet our partners etc.

  • Week 9 and 10

    Working with Career Specialist on employment
    or hard skill programming interest;
    Graduation
We will continue to support all participants who have completed the workforce program as needed.

Requirements

  • Participants come directly from our SC2 Austin Partners (Together Chicago, BUILD Chicago, and the Institute for Non-Violence Chicago)
  • The outreach teams connect with Austin residents who fit the CVI model

What is Community Violence Intervention (CVI)

In 2018, Austin Forward. Together (AFT) leaders identified the need to expand violence intervention initiatives in Chicago. In 2024, AFT leaders and organizations seized an opportunity to meet this need by partnering with citywide collaborative known as Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago (SC2)

CVI is

  • A Community- based approach to addressing violence
  • Engaging individuals most at risk of being a victim of or coming an act of gun violence
  • A goal to prevent and disrupt cycles of violence and retaliation
  • Providing services that save lives, address trauma, and improve the physical, social and economic conditions that drive violence.

Our approach to CVI in Austin

  • Street Outreach & Victim Services
  • Mental and Behavioral Health Counseling
  • Education
  • Employment ( Workforce Development)
  • Spiritual Counseling, Mentorship & Case Management
  • Community Mobilizations

Current and future employment and CSAC partners

  • CTA 2nd Chance Program
  • CACC Program
  • Women's Employed Workforce program and Malcom X College: Phlebotomy, CNA etc
  • CleanTurn- Cleaning Service Chicago partnership/ Janitorial Workforce
  • St Paul Community Development Ministries (Apprenticeship Training Program) Skilled Construction Trade, Revolution Workshop, Chicago Women in Trades, and Hire 360
  • Amazon, Sam’s Club, Walmart, FedEx
  • JARC Welding, CNC Machine Operator Programs, and Greater West Town forklift program
  • Unite Here Chicago Hospitality Institute
  • Austin Chamber of Commerce (finding employer needs & connecting community business owners to job ready participants)
  • A Strengthen relationship with Illinois Department of Corrections (Director Latoya Hughes, Jennifer Parrack Chief of Programs, Linda Gaston-Rowe Parole)
  • Strengthen relationship with 7th District Congressman Danny K Davis, St Rep Lashawn K Ford, St Rep Camile Lilly, Alderman Chris Telefario, Alderman Emma Mitts, Commissioner Tara Stamps

Workforce development community violence intervention SC2

This Austin Collaborative with the Institute for Non-Violence Chicago (INVC) as our Collaboration HUB is committed to authentic relationship building and transparency, and believes those are best achieved when you have shared values and a willingness to accomplish the greater good together

  • Austin Coming Together

  • BUILD

  • HOPE CDC

  • INVC HUB

  • Heartland Human Care