Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr., CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team announced today that two Chicago Public School seniors have been awarded scholarships from the “CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund,” a program that provides financial assistance to CPS students who want to pursue construction and engineering-related college educations.

This scholarship program, created by CTA and Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) contractor Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team, provides $5,500 each year for four years to economically disadvantaged students who plan to pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) for engineering and construction-related degrees. The scholarship was launched in 2020 as part of the historic $2.1 billion RPM project.

This first-of-its-kind CTA initiative provides scholarships, mentoring support and career guidance for under-resourced college students. The scholarship program is administered by Chicago Scholars, a nonprofit dedicated to college access, college success and leadership development for first-generation and low-income students in Chicago.

This year’s winners will join six other CPS students who won the scholarship in past years and are now pursuing degrees in the construction and engineering fields. Project contractor Walsh-Fluor is sponsoring the scholarships. Scholarship recipients also can apply for paid internships on the RPM project.

“Investing in our youth is a critical step to strengthening our communities,” said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “I congratulate our scholarship recipients who represent the best of our city and will shape our bright future. Our entire city is proud of them and their accomplishments.”

“The ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund,’ reflects our city’s commitment to our future leaders,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said. “We will continue to seek innovative partnerships that increase the number of opportunities for Chicago youth.”

“We strongly believe that all CTA projects are opportunities to lift up our communities and invest in our neighbors,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “Students pursuing careers in transportation, construction and engineering are important for our city and our industry, and we applaud these individuals for taking this important step toward their futures.”

“Since its inception, the ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund’ has helped shape the future of many Chicago Scholars interested in pursuing higher education or careers in the ever-evolving fields of transportation, construction and engineering. We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of the City of Chicago, the Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Public Schools and Walsh-Fluor,” said Jeffery Beckham Jr., CEO of Chicago Scholars. “Working alongside community leaders with the common goal of supporting our Chicago Scholars is a great honor and allows us to continue carrying out our mission.”

“What makes this program unique is the ongoing support each of our scholars receives,” said Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team Project Executive Dave Shier. “We are truly invested in their success.”

“The Elevating Futures Scholarship has really helped me by supporting me financially and enabling me to further pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration & management at Loyola University Chicago,” said Axel Hernandez, a current Elevating Futures Scholarship recipient.

The 2022 CTA Elevating Futures Scholars are:

Patrick Muyenzi, 19, Rogers Park
Patrick is graduating at the top of his class at Sullivan High School, where he has taken many honors classes and received recognition for his outstanding academic performance. A student-athlete, Patrick has been an active member of the school’s soccer and volleyball teams, and he enjoys discovering the city through his involvement with the West Town Bike Program. Patrick is also engaged in his local community, having served as an intern at his alderwoman’s office, consistently sharing his professionalism and intelligence when assisting constituents. Teachers and supervisors commend Patrick’s curiosity, thoughtfulness, drive, and leadership skills.

Patrick plans to become an engineer, believing science can address almost any problem in the world. When he was younger, Patrick and his family lived in a refugee camp in Uganda after fleeing Congo for a better life. It was in the refugee camp where he taught himself how to construct a “do-it-yourself” flashlight, due to the lack of electricity there. This inspired him to pursue a degree in electrical engineering to learn how to build sustainable energy solutions. Patrick will be entering the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall.

Freddy Romero, 18, Austin
Freddy Romero attends Austin College and Career Academy, where he is valedictorian of his class. A well-rounded and hardworking student, he has excelled academically and received the Austin Math, Music and Art Awards. Outside of school, he has participated in various STEM-related activities, such as Project Exploration, the EXIGENT Pre-Calculus program, After School Matters’ Woods and Walls program, Code Next and Youth Chicago Apprentice, where he currently works in repairing technology used in CPS.

Freddy’s goal is to become a mechanical engineer so he can improve technology and machinery that can assist those with disabilities. He also hopes to improve his community in the future by creating a “Re-Start” enrichment program that would enable young people to discover their paths. Freddy is held in high esteem by his teachers, who commend his character, focus, and determination. Freddy will be enrolling in the pre-engineering program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he plans to major in mechanical engineering or computer science.

For more information about this program, visit CTA’s website or Chicago Scholars’ website.

CTA’S RPM PHASE ONE PROJECT STIMULATES ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR CHICAGO’S SMALL, DIVERSE BUSINESSES WITH HELP FROM CONTRACTOR WALSH-FLUOR

Program assists nearly 100 businesses in building financial capacity, securing federal loan assistance

CHICAGO (September 15, 2021) – CTA’s Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Project, the largest transit investment in the agency’s history, today announced the milestone of securing $5 million in federal loans in 2020-2021 for local small businesses as part of the CTA Building Small Businesses (BSB) Program.

The BSB Program, launched in 2019, was developed to provide financial guidance to small businesses and other Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) by offering direct loan placement and other supports so they can demonstrate the up-front capital needed to compete on large-scale transportation construction and capital programs.

CTA provided technical and funding assistance to about 100 small businesses during 2020-2021, an incredibly unpredictable and unprecedented time for DBEs. In direct response to financial hardships brought on by the pandemic, the project expanded to include assistance to companies applying for federal CARES Act loans, helping secure $5 million for these businesses.

The program was created through a partnership between the CTA, RPM contractor Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC Chicago). The program consists of free capacity-building workshops for small businesses that are certified as DBEs or that are interested in becoming DBE-certified.

Unlike other programs, BSB offers both one on one financial capacity assessments and technical assistance, helping more minority businesses get through the impact of Covid-19 by securing PPP loans, or by teaching the businesses best practices that could help a small, minority-owned vendors build technical acumen and capacity to bid on future RPM or CTA contracting opportunities. Instrumental in providing these services through the program are Suzanne Arkle, CEO of Zann and Associates and Darrick Brown, President of ABF Consulting Group, both businesses contracted through Walsh-Fluor.

“CTA is proud to help small, minority-owned businesses with becoming better able to grow and compete for contracts on projects like the Red and Purple Modernization Project,” said CTA President Dorval Carter, Jr. “By removing barriers to opportunities, we’re investing in our communities and our cities, increasing economic equity in our city.”

Here are some of the businesses’ stories on how CTA’s BSB program helped them secure funds, were awarded a contract to work on RPM Phase One and/or were able to take advantage of new business opportunities:

Allstate Concrete Cutting is an MBE/DBE-certified concrete cutting and coring business led by its owner, Mike Seay. In 2009, Seay purchased Allstate on the cusp of bankruptcy, with only one truck and two saws. Seay has grown the business to 14 trucks and 10 saws with about 15 employees over the past 12 years. Seay attended Walsh-Fluor’s Lunch and Learn series as part of the BSB Program, providing him with tools and resources to continue to grow his business successfully. Walsh-Fluor and CTA ultimately awarded Allstate a contract to work on RPM Phase One, providing concrete coring, concrete wall cutting and saw-cutting for the project.

AMS Elite Solutions is a WBE/DBE-certified construction hauling and material supplier company led by founder Julie Savitt. Savitt started AMS Elite Solutions in 2016 with only one truck, and has since grown her business to have 12 trucks and additional equipment. Interested in learning how to build financial capacity for the business, Savitt attended a BSB Program event where she received mentoring and the opportunity to network with industry professionals. Ultimately, she bid on and was awarded a RPM contact to provide ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­trucking and aggregate hauling services. ­Additionally, the BSB Program assisted Savitt in securing CARES Act funding for her business during the pandemic.

Paniagua Group is an MBE/DBE-certified contractor specializing in carpentry, demolition for interiors, construction clean up, painting and flooring. Founder Al Paniagua is a second-generation Latin-American, born from parents who immigrated to the United States from Mexico. Paniagua has been in business for 27 years, employing between 25 and 70 people at a time. Trying to grow his business over the years, he was denied loans because of work unpredictability and limited assets. Then the pandemic hit, and Paniagua feared it would be the end of his business. As a firm believer in networking, Paniagua explored the BSB Program, which mentored him and helped him obtain a 15-year, low-interest loan. BSB Program contacts also assisted him in securing CARES Act funding to help him through the pandemic, and facilitated an introduction to Walsh Construction’s healthcare division – an area of construction where Paniagua group continues to obtain work. 

Trevor Development, Inc. is a 40-year-old MBE/DBE-certified contractor that specializes in residential interior construction and commercial build-outs. Its founder, Anthony Copeland, attended one of the BSB Program’s virtual workshops to build financial capacity, which provided him with a one-on-one session with a lender that assisted Trevor Development in securing funding through the CARES Act, helping the business through the pandemic.

Smelly Fresh LLC is a janitorial cleaning services company founded in 2014 by Steve James, a former attorney inspired by an incident when a cleaning crew failed to show up to his friend’s restaurant. He offered to clean the restaurant and his friend offered him a contract. James grew his business from seven to 95 clients, and his participation in the BSB program led to bidding on and being awarded a contract on the RPM project to clean project offices.

“Working with this team gave us a lot of confidence that we can do this work and have the capacity,” said Julie Savitt, President of AMS Elite Solutions. “I’m very thankful for the mentoring and support.”

Following the success of the Walsh-Fluor and RPM Phase One BSB Program, CTA decided to implement an authority-wide program which is now in the process of procuring a team to continue administering the program on the whole-system scale.

The CTA BSB Program was also one of many diversity initiatives cited in the July 2021 Outstanding Public Transportation System Award and the Outstanding Public Transportation Manager Award, from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) – the highest honors in the North American public transportation industry. The system award recognizes the CTA’s unprecedented modernization and diversity and inclusion efforts in 2020 to provide service during the Covid-19 pandemic, which impacted every transit agency in the nation.

The CTA BSB Program was created through a partnership between the CTA, RPM contractor Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC Chicago). For more information about RPM Phase One’s SBE/DBE development efforts and opportunities, go to transitchicago.com/rpm/small-businesses.

In its second year, CTA’s Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) scholarship program, created by CTA and RPM Phase One contractor Walsh-Fluor, helps Chicago youth pursue degrees in construction and engineering-related fields

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. and CPS CEO Dr. Janice Jackson announced today that three Chicago Public School seniors have been named recipients of the “CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund”, launched by CTA and the Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One project contractor Walsh-Fluor in 2020.

The scholarship program provides $5,500 per year for four years to economically disadvantaged students who plan to pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) for engineering and construction-related degrees.

“Now more than ever, we must continue to provide gainful and enriching opportunities for our young people—who have suffered so much over the course of this pandemic,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “This innovative scholarship program will serve as the city’s latest youth enrichment initiative and give our young people access to financial aid and mentorship support as they pursue academic excellence. I want to thank our partners at CPS and the CTA for continuing to invest in the lives of our youth and providing them with the resources they need to build successful careers and participate in our city’s economic vibrancy.”

“At CTA, we are committed to investments in the communities we serve in addition to making important investments in our infrastructure to improve our service for customers,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “By partnering with our contractor Walsh-Fluor, these scholarships open doors for students who might not otherwise be able to afford college, and giving them the chance to pursue education and build careers in the construction and engineering fields.”

“Ensuring students have the ability to attend college and pursue their dreams is an important step in achieving equity in public education,” said CPS CEO, Dr. Janice K. Jackson. “The ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund,’ will help ensure that students who want to pursue their career dreams don’t encounter a financial barrier when entering college. This scholarship is an important resource for our students and I want to thank the CTA for championing Chicago’s most deserving students.”

“After such a challenging year, we are pleased to build on last year’s success with three scholarship recipients,” said Dave Shier, Walsh-Fluor RPM Project Executive. “Our first-year scholarship recipients will be getting work experience this summer as interns in the construction and engineering fields.”

“The ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund’ has been a pivotal opportunity for our Chicago Scholars engaging in STEM education and careers. In a year when financial support for higher education, as well as career training, has been limited, we are grateful for the ongoing support of the City of Chicago, the Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Public Schools and Walsh-Fluor to these students,” said Jeffery Beckham, Jr., CEO of Chicago Scholars. “We are proud to create pathways alongside community leaders for our Chicago Scholars who are committed to the pursuit of higher education.”

The program was created in 2020 as part of the CTA’s historic $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization Phase One (RPM) project. Last year three students were awarded scholarships as well, with each student now pursuing degrees in the construction and engineering fields. Project contractor Walsh-Fluor Design-Build team is sponsoring the scholarships and making paid internships on the RPM project available to scholarship recipients.

The first-of-its-kind CTA initiative provides scholarships, mentoring support and career guidance for under-resourced college students. The scholarship program is administered by Chicago Scholars, a nonprofit dedicated to college access, college success, and leadership development for first-generation and low-income students in Chicago.

Donated by Walsh-Fluor to help offset tuition costs for CPS graduates, the $250,000 ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund’ will provide 10 financial aid scholarships from 2020 through 2023 for students who plan on majoring in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) for engineering and construction-related degrees. Students who are awarded scholarships will also be eligible to apply for paid summer internships with Walsh-Fluor and the CTA.

The 2021 CTA Elevating Futures Scholars are:

Sabine Ramirez, 18, Hegewisch

Sabine is the top-ranked student in her class at EPIC Academy High School, where she has taken an advanced course load, including many AP and honors classes. She is passionate about mechanical engineering and plans to pursue a career in the field. Ultimately, Sabine would like to create solutions with STEM for disparities in our world. She loves the design element of engineering and has been able to explore this through various STEM programs including Project Syncere. Her ultimate goal is to become the head engineer of her entrepreneurial project to create a new generation of self-reparative robots designed for industrial and military settings and workspaces. Sabine would like to support increased STEM education in elementary schools by developing robotics kits for entry-level STEM learning.  Teachers note that Sabine is a role model for her classmates, demonstrating strong intelligence, deep curiosity, positivity and a tireless work ethic. Sabine has been admitted to engineering programs at Purdue, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Michigan and Boston University, and is currently finalizing her college decision.

Ricky Ho, 17, Bridgeport

Ricky attends William Jones College Prep, where he has followed a four-year, pre-engineering course, taking advanced computer science and math classes, along with honors civil engineering and architecture. Ricky is a dedicated student who has always been passionate about computers. He believes the endless possibilities in computer science allow us to solve issues in any industry, and he aspires to work for a large tech company developing solutions utilizing artificial intelligence. In particular, he is interested in creating improvements in transportation safety through autonomous driving. Ricky has explored web development and coding through camps and internships which have taught him valuable technical skills and fueled his love for computers. Teachers commend Ricky for his hard work, problem-solving abilities and positive influence on others. Ricky will be pursuing a degree in computer science at the University of Michigan.

Axel Hernandez, 19, Back of the Yards

Axel attends William Jones College Prep, where he has taken a rigorous course load, including four AP classes in his senior year. He plans to pursue a career in business administration and management to create a better future for himself and his community. Axel has been working for his family’s construction company since he was 15 years old. Guided by his father, he is learning about the business and taking on an increasing amount of management responsibilities. Plus, he has been developing his business skills through freelance visual art and video production work with various companies and gaming organizations. At school, Axel is involved in several organizations, including the Minority Leaders of Impact club, which seeks to empower minority students through service and diverse programming. Axel is determined, creative and hard working. Always prepared, he seeks to maximize efficiency in order to achieve his goals. Axel has been admitted to the schools of business at both Loyola University Chicago and DePaul University, and is currently finalizing his college decision.

For more information about this program, visit ­CTA’s web site at transitchicago.com/rpm/workforce-opportunities or Chicago Scholars’ web site at chicagoscholars.org/elevatingfutures.

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La alcaldesa Lightfoot, CTA y CPS anuncian a los estudiantes ganadores de la beca “CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund” del ciclo 2021-2022

En su segundo año, el programa de becas del Proyecto de Modernización de las Líneas Roja y Morada (RPM, por sus siglas en inglés) de CTA, creado por CTA junto con Walsh-Fluor, la compañía constructora del proyecto RPM Fase Uno, ayuda a los jóvenes de Chicago a estudiar para obtener títulos en carreras de construcción e ingeniería

Lori E. Lightfoot, alcaldesa de Chicago; Dorval R. Carter Jr., presidente de CTA; y la Dra. Janice Jackson, directora general de CPS, anunciaron que tres estudiantes del último año de preparatoria de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS) fueron nombrados beneficiarios de la beca “CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund”, lanzada en el año 2020 por CTA en conjunto con Walsh-Fluor, la compañía constructora del Proyecto de Modernización de las Líneas Roja y Morada (RPM) Fase Uno.

El programa de becas proporciona 5,500 dólares al año durante cuatro años a estudiantes desfavorecidos económicamente que planean estudiar carreras de ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería o matemáticas (CTIM) para obtener un título en los campos de la ingeniería o la construcción.

“Ahora más que nunca, debemos seguir brindando oportunidades provechosas y enriquecedoras a nuestros jóvenes, quienes han sufrido mucho durante esta pandemia” señaló la alcaldesa Lightfoot. “Este innovador programa de becas funcionará como la más reciente iniciativa de enriquecimiento educativo para la juventud de la ciudad y le dará a nuestros jóvenes acceso a ayuda financiera y apoyo de mentores mientras se dedican a la excelencia académica. Quiero agradecer a nuestros socios en CPS y CTA por continuar invirtiendo en las vidas de nuestros jóvenes y por brindarles los recursos que necesitan para desarrollar profesiones exitosas y participar en el dinamismo económico de nuestra ciudad”, añadió.

“En CTA nos comprometemos a invertir en las comunidades que servimos, además de realizar inversiones importantes en nuestra infraestructura para mejorar el servicio a nuestros clientes”, declaró Dorval R. Carter, Jr., presidente de CTA. “Al asociarnos con la compañía constructora Walsh-Fluor, estas becas abren la puerta a estudiantes que de otra forma no podrían cubrir el costo de una educación universitaria, dándoles la oportunidad de dedicarse a estudiar y desarrollar carreras en los campos de la construcción y la ingeniería”.

“Asegurar que los estudiantes puedan ir a la universidad y dedicarse a la profesión de sus sueños es un paso importante para lograr la equidad en la educación pública”, dijo la Dra. Janice K. Jackson, Directora General de CPS. La beca ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund’ ayudará a asegurar que los estudiantes que quieren dedicarse a su profesión ideal no se enfrenten a una barrera financiera al entrar a la universidad. Esta beca es un recurso importante para nuestros estudiantes y quiero agradecer a CTA por impulsar a los estudiantes de Chicago que más se lo merecen”.

“Tras un año lleno de retos, nos da mucho gusto seguir con el éxito del año pasado, otorgando tres becas más”, mencionó Dave Shier, ejecutivo de Walsh-Fluor, la compañía constructora del proyecto RPM. “Los recipientes del primer año de nuestra beca obtendrán experiencia laboral este verano al realizar prácticas profesionales en las áreas de construcción e ingeniería”.

“La beca ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund’ ha sido una oportunidad clave para nuestros alumnos becados de Chicago que se dedican a las carreras de CTIM. En un año en el que el apoyo financiero para la educación superior y el entrenamiento profesional han sido limitados, estamos muy agradecidos con la Ciudad de Chicago, la Autoridad de Tránsito de Chicago, las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago y Walsh-Fluor, por su apoyo continuo a estos estudiantes”, declaró Jeffery Beckham, Jr., director general de Chicago Scholars. “Estamos orgullosos de abrir caminos junto con varios líderes de la comunidad para los alumnos becados de Chicago que están comprometidos con obtener una educación superior”.

El programa fue creado en 2020 como parte del histórico proyecto de 2,100 millones de dólares de CTA, el Proyecto de Modernización de las Líneas Roja y Morada Fase Uno. El año pasado, otros tres estudiantes recibieron becas, y cada uno de ellos está estudiando para obtener un título en los campos de la construcción y la ingeniería. La compañía constructora del proyecto, Walsh-Fluor Design-Build, patrocina las becas y ofrece prácticas profesionales pagadas en el proyecto RPM disponibles para los beneficiarios de la beca.

Esta iniciativa de CTA, la primera en su tipo, proporciona becas, orientación profesional y el apoyo de mentores para estudiantes universitarios de bajos ingresos. El programa de becas es administrado por Chicago Scholars, una organización sin fines de lucro dedicada al acceso a la universidad, el éxito universitario y el desarrollo de liderazgo para estudiantes de primera generación y de bajos ingresos en Chicago.

Walsh-Fluor donó 250,000 dólares al “CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund” con el fin de compensar los costos de las colegiaturas universitarias para los graduados de CPS. Los fondos permitirán proporcionar, en el período comprendido entre 2020 y 2023, diez becas de ayuda financiera a estudiantes que planean estudiar ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería o matemáticas (CTIM) para obtener títulos de ingeniería o construcción. Los estudiantes que reciban becas también serán elegibles para solicitar prácticas profesionales de verano pagadas tanto en Walsh-Fluor como en CTA.

Los CTA Elevating Futures Scholars son:

Sabine Ramirez, 18, Hegewisch

Sabine es la alumna más destacada de su clase en EPIC Academy High School, donde ha tomado una serie de cursos avanzados, incluyendo muchos cursos AP (de colocación avanzada) y de mención honorífica. Le apasiona la ingeniería mecánica y planea dedicarse a una profesión dentro de dicha área. A Sabine le gustaría crear soluciones para las desigualdades de nuestro mundo a través de CTIM. Dentro de la ingeniería, le encanta el diseño; y ha podido explorar esta área a través de varios programas CTIM, entre los cuales se encuentra Project Syncere. Su meta principal es llegar a ser la ingeniera líder de su propio proyecto emprendedor para crear una nueva generación de robots autoreparadores, diseñados para espacios y lugares de trabajo industriales y militares. A Sabine le gustaría apoyar el incremento de la educación CTIM en escuelas primarias a través del desarrollo de kits robóticos para el aprendizaje STEM de nivel básico. Sus maestros han señalado que Sabine es un modelo a seguir para sus compañeros de clase, ya que demuestra gran inteligencia y curiosidad, una actitud positiva y una ética de trabajo incansable. Sabine ha sido aceptada en programas de ingeniería en Purdue, la Universidad de Illinois en Urbana-Champaign, la Universidad de Michigan y Boston University; actualmente está decidiendo a qué universidad asistir.

Ricky Ho, 17, Bridgeport

Ricky va a la escuela William Jones College Prep, donde ha cursado un programa de cuatro años de, preingeniería, tomando  cursos avanzados de ciencias de la computación y matemáticas, así como cursos de mención honorífica de arquitectura e ingeniería civil. Ricky es un estudiante aplicado al que siempre le han apasionado las computadoras; cree que las posibilidades infinitas en las ciencias de la computación nos permiten solucionar problemas en cualquier industria, y aspira a trabajar en una compañía de tecnología desarrollando soluciones que utilicen inteligencia artificial. Le interesa mucho mejorar la seguridad del transporte a través del manejo de vehículos autónomos. Ricky ha explorado las áreas de desarrollo web y la programación en campamentos y prácticas profesionales que le han enseñado valiosas habilidades técnicas y aumentado su gusto por las computadoras. Diversos maestros elogian a Ricky por su esfuerzo, su habilidad para resolver problemas y su influencia positiva en otros. Ricky estudiará para obtener un título en ciencias de la computación en la Universidad de Michigan.

Axel Hernandez, 19, Back of the Yards

Axel va a la escuela William Jones College Prep, donde ha elegido una serie de cursos avanzados rigurosos, incluyendo cuatro cursos AP (de colocación avanzada) en su último año. Planea emprender una carrera en administración de empresas para crear un mejor futuro para él y su comunidad. Axel ha trabajado para la compañía constructora de su familia desde que tenía 15 años. Guiado por su padre, está aprendiendo sobre el negocio y adquiriendo cada vez más responsabilidades gerenciales. Además, ha estado desarrollando habilidades para los negocios a través de su trabajo independiente de artes visuales y producción de videos con varias compañías y organizaciones de videojuegos. En su escuela, Axel participa activamente en varias organizaciones, entre las que se encuentra el club “Minority Leaders of Impact”, el cual busca empoderar a estudiantes de minorías a través del servicio y la diversidad en la programación. Axel es decidido, creativo y esmerado. Siempre está preparado y busca maximizar la eficiencia para alcanzar sus metas. Axel ha sido aceptado en las escuelas de negocios de Loyola University Chicago y DePaul University, y actualmente está decidiendo a cuál universidad asistir.

Para más información sobre este programa, favor de visitar el sitio web de ­CTA en transitchicago.com/rpm/workforce-opportunities o el sitio web de Chicago Scholars en chicagoscholars.org/elevatingfutures

In partnership with Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) contractor Walsh-Fluor and non-profit Chicago Scholars, CTA opens college scholarship program for low-income Chicago youth in program’s second year

CHICAGO – Mayor Lightfoot, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) recently announced that new applications are now being accepted for the “CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund”, an innovative program that provides a path for economically disadvantaged youth to pursue education and careers in construction and engineering.

Created in partnership with the Walsh-Fluor Design-Build team — the contractor for CTA’s historic $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project — the scholarship program provides aid to students who plan to pursue four-year degrees in construction management, civil engineering, industrial engineering or systems engineering.

“It’s important that as a city we continue to invest in our youth and prepare them for the future,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “The CTA’s innovative scholarship program provides opportunity to hard-working students from low-income backgrounds, helping them achieve their potential in an especially challenging world.”

“With every CTA project, we are committed to creating opportunity and inclusion for Chicagoans across the city,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “With potential future labor shortages in these industries, there is a growing opportunity for our youth to enter occupational fields in which they have been historically underrepresented.”

The “CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund” was created by CTA in 2019 and is now in its second year. Walsh-Fluor is funding the program with $250,000 for 10 scholarships between 2020 and 2023. Students who are awarded scholarships are also eligible to apply for paid summer internships with Walsh-Fluor. The program is administered by Chicago Scholars, a mentoring and leadership development organization that helps first-generation college students and students from under-resourced communities navigate transitions into college, through college and on to careers.

“We have so many students who work hard and are committed to their education and need financial assistance to achieve their dreams,” said CPS CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson. “The ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund,’ lessens the barriers they face and gives them the opportunities they need to succeed, especially during such difficult times.”

“Chicago Scholars is proud to partner with the CTA and Walsh-Fluor and create important opportunities for CPS students through the ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund’,” said Jeffery Beckham Jr., Chicago Scholars Interim CEO. “This fund will elevate opportunities for our financially under-resourced and first-generation Scholars beyond college access as they continue on the path to becoming young professionals and leaders within Chicago’s STEM industry.”

Program details and timeline

• The application period opened Dec. 10, 2020 and applications will be due March 1, 2021. To apply, click here.
• Up to three scholarships will be awarded of $5,500 a year for four years per winner.
• Scholarship winners will be announced on April 15, 2021.
• Eligible students must be enrolled in a CPS or CPS-supported high school and currently part of the Chicago Scholars program. Chicago Scholars recruits from all 77 community areas of the city and has student representation from 75 CPS and CPS-supported high schools.
• Eligible students must be enrolled in STEM coursework, have a grade point average of at least 3.0, and have a good attendance record.

In 2020, three CPS students were awarded scholarships. Learn more about them here and check out a video of them here.

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La beca “CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund” ya está aceptando solicitudes

En alianza con Walsh-Fluor, compañía constructora del Programa de Modernización de las Líneas Roja y Morada (RPM, por sus siglas in inglés)  y la organización sin fines de lucro Chicago Scholars, CTA abre el programa de becas universitarias para jóvenes de bajos ingresos de Chicago en el segundo año del programa

CHICAGO – La alcaldesa Lightfoot, la Autoridad de Tránsito de Chicago (CTA), y las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS) anunciaron el pasado 29 de diciembre que ya están aceptando nuevas solicitudes para la beca “CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund”, un programa innovador que brinda una opción a los jóvenes desfavorecidos económicamente para que puedan emprender su educación y estudiar carreras de construcción e ingeniería.

Creada en conjunto con el equipo de Walsh-Fluor Design-Build, la compañía constructora a cargo del histórico proyecto de 2,100 millones de dólares de CTA, el Proyecto de Modernización de las Líneas Roja y Morada Fase Uno de CTA (RPM), el programa de becas proporciona ayuda financiera a estudiantes que planean estudiar carreras de cuatro años de administración de la construcción, ingeniería civil, ingeniería industrial o ingeniería en sistemas.

“Es importante que en nuestra ciudad sigamos invirtiendo en nuestros jóvenes y preparándolos para el futuro”, declaró la alcaldesa Lightfoot. “Este innovador programa de becas de CTA brinda oportunidades a estudiantes diligentes de bajos ingresos, ayudándoles a desarrollar su potencial en un mundo lleno de retos”.

“En cada proyecto de CTA, nos comprometemos a crear oportunidades y una mayor inclusión para los habitantes de Chicago por toda la ciudad”, señaló Dorval R. Carter Jr., Presidente de CTA. “Debido a la posible escasez de mano de obra en estas industrias en el futuro, existe una oportunidad cada vez más amplia para que nuestra juventud tenga acceso a  ocupaciones en las que no han tenido suficiente representación en el pasado”.

La beca “CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund” fue creada por CTA en 2019 y este es su segundo año. Walsh-Fluor está financiando el programa con 250,000 dólares para 10 becas entre 2020 y 2023. Los estudiantes a los que les otorgan una beca también califican para solicitar prácticas profesionales de verano pagadas con Walsh-Fluor. El programa lo administra Chicago Scholars, una organización de desarrollo de mentores y líderes que ayuda a estudiantes universitarios de primera generación y a estudiantes de comunidades de bajos recursos con la transición a la universidad, los cambios durante la universidad y la transición a carreras profesionales.

“Tenemos muchos estudiantes muy dedicados y comprometidos con su educación que requieren ayuda financiera para cumplir sus sueños”, declaró la Dra. Janice K. Jackson, Directora General de CPS. La beca ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund’ atenúa los obstáculos a los que se enfrentan y les brinda las oportunidades que necesitan para alcanzar el éxito, especialmente durante tiempos tan difíciles como los actuales”.

“En Chicago Scholars estamos orgullosos de aliarnos con CTA y Walsh-Fluor para crear oportunidades importantes para los estudiantes de CPS a través la beca ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund’”, dijo Jeffery Beckham Jr., Director General Provisional de Chicago Scholars. “Esta beca ampliará las oportunidades para nuestros estudiantes de bajos recursos y de primera generación más allá del acceso a la universidad, conforme sigan su camino a convertirse en jóvenes profesionales y líderes en las industrias CTIM de Chicago”.

Detalles y cronología del programa

• El período de solicitud comenzó el 10 de diciembre de 2020 y la fecha límite para las solicitudes es el 1.^o de marzo de 2021. Para hacer una solicitud haga clic aquí.
• Serán otorgadas hasta tres becas de 5,500 dólares al año durante cuatro años para cada ganador.
• Se anunciarán los ganadores de las becas el 15 de abril de 2021.
• Los estudiantes elegibles deben estar inscritos en una escuela preparatoria de CPS o respaldada por CPS y deben ser parte del programa Chicago Scholars actualmente. Chicago Scholars recluta estudiantes de las 77 áreas comunitarias de la ciudad y tiene una representación estudiantil de 75 escuelas preparatorias de CPS o respaldadas por CPS.
• Los estudiantes elegibles deben estar inscritos en materias de CTIM, tener un promedio (GPA) de al menos 3.0 y tener un buen registro de asistencia.

En 2020, tres estudiantes de CPS recibieron becas; vea un video sobre ellos aquí.

While COVID has hit the pause button on so many opportunities for our high school students, CTA is helping provide a path for CPS high school students to pursue architecture-, construction- and engineering-related careers through CTA’s historic Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project.

Through the landmark CTA Building Small Businesses Program, CTA and Walsh-Fluor helped 10 small businesses working on the RPM project to secure $3.4 million in federal funds

The CTA’s Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project and the Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team, RPM’s contractor, have helped disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) successfully apply for and receive $3.4 million in COVID-19-related federal aid.

The CTA with Walsh-Fluor and LISC Chicago created the “CTA Building Small Businesses” program in 2019 to provide financial and technical assistance to small businesses that are certified as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) or that are seeking to become DBE-certified to be eligible to work on CTA projects. Since the COVID-19 crisis began, CTA and Walsh-Fluor have expanded their support to help companies apply for federal CARES Act loans, which includes the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

“These small businesses are helping CTA build new Red Line stations and tracks, and in our view, it is just as important to invest in our communities as it is in our infrastructure,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “Given the strength of our CTA Building Small Businesses program with our partner Walsh-Fluor, it made perfect sense to go beyond our regular program assistance to help these businesses survive this unprecedented period.”

Paniagua Group, based in Arlington Heights, is one such beneficiary from participating in CTA’s Small Business Program and receiving guidance on successfully applying for federal COVID-19 funds. Paniagua, through working with Walsh-Fluor and CTA through its “CTA Building Small Businesses”, has successfully bid and worked on a CTA construction project because of its participation.

This spring, CTA and Walsh-Fluor held a virtual CTA Building Small Businesses session during which:

• Small businesses were provided information about how to swiftly assemble the necessary documents to successfully apply for federal funding.
• The program team created a guide outlining the capacity of both lending programs, who is eligible, and what financial information applicants should be prepared to submit.
• The team worked one-on-one with DBEs seeking loans.
• Thirteen (13) companies, including contractors and professional services, were successful in applying for loans that ranged in amounts from about $6,500 to $1.2 million.

The CTA Building Small Businesses Program was created to help small businesses bid on large projects like the $2.1 billion RPM project.  The program is designed to help DBEs secure loans for working capital, equipment and other cash-flow needs. Launched in September 2019, the program has worked with dozens of small businesses to develop the capacity to bid on CTA projects like the RPM.

For more information on RPM, visit transitchicago.com/RPM.

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CTA, RPM Contractor Walsh-Fluor and Chicago Scholars in 2020 Launched RPM Scholarship Program to Help Youth Pursue Education and Careers in Construction

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. and CPS CEO Dr. Janice Jackson announced today that three recent Chicago Public School graduates have been named recipients of the “CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund”, the first students to be awarded these scholarships since the program was launched earlier this year [link to video].

The scholarship program provides $5,500 per year for four years to economically disadvantaged students who plan to pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) for engineering and construction-related degrees.

“As Chicago faces multiple challenges, now more than ever we must continue to find ways to increase equitable access to opportunity for all of our youth,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “Innovative programs like this scholarship program help give the financial and mentoring support these outstanding students need and prepare them to build careers and participate in our city’s economic vibrancy.”

“From the very start, the RPM project has been about making a better future for all Chicagoans: residents, riders, businesses and the workforce,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “This program moves us closer to that goal by offering these remarkable students with the opportunity to pursue education and build careers in the construction and engineering fields.”

“Every CPS graduate deserves to be able to follow their postsecondary dreams without facing an insurmountable financial barrier,” said CPS CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson. “Through the ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund,’ the CTA and Walsh-Fluor are providing a helping hand to some of our city’s hardest-working young adults.”

“We are proud of these three students and the work they’ve accomplished,” said Dave Shier, Walsh-Fluor RPM Project Executive. “We hope this scholarship not only brightens their present, but enables them to lead tomorrow’s engineering fields and truly become the city of Chicago’s next generation of homegrown leaders.”

“The commitment provided to Chicago Scholars’ students through the ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund’ is a game changer. Not only does it provide important financial support, it is proof that Chicago’s leaders see these three students as the leaders of tomorrow,” said Dominique Jordan Turner, CEO of Chicago Scholars. “We are proud of these students, and all of our Scholars, who are continuing to commit to their futures and education in these uncertain times.”

The program was created as part of the CTA’s historic $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization Phase One (RPM) project. Project contractor Walsh-Fluor Design-Build team is sponsoring the scholarships and making paid internships on the RPM project available to scholarship recipients.

The first-of-its-kind CTA initiative provides scholarships, mentoring support and career guidance for under-resourced college students. The scholarship program is administered by Chicago Scholars, a nonprofit dedicated to college access, college success, and leadership development for first-generation and low-income students in Chicago.

Donated by Walsh-Fluor to help offset tuition costs for CPS graduates, the $250,000 ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund’ will provide 10 financial aid scholarships from 2020 through 2023 for students who plan on majoring in construction management, civil engineering, industrial or systems engineering. Students who are awarded scholarships will also be eligible to apply for paid summer internships with Walsh-Fluor and the CTA.

The 2020 CTA Elevating Futures Scholars, featured in a video here, are:

Jorge Vargas, 17, Humboldt Park

Jorge graduated near the top of his class at Lake View High School and will pursue a degree in civil engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is passionate about engineering and fell in love with trains as a young child, when he would travel back and forth between New York and Chicago on the Amtrak. He believes the innovative power that civil engineers have can be of immense benefit to society, and he hopes to use his engineering skills for positive social impact. In the future, he aspires to combine his interest in civil engineering with his entrepreneurial spirit by developing an international high-speed transit company that works to combat climate change. His goals also include providing more accessible and affordable transportation around the city in order to address needs in transportation deserts and promote economic development.

Other recipients:

Jasmine Jackson, 18, Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood

Jasmine ranked first in her class of nearly 200 students at Noble Street Charter – Gary Comer College Prep and will study engineering at Howard University. Her goal is to become a civil engineer because it will allow her to merge her two passions: math and art. She loves the challenge of solving a difficult math problem and the satisfaction of expressing her creativity through art. As a civil engineer, she will bring her creative side to her projects while ensuring everything is mathematically correct. Jasmine plans to use her profession to make the world a better place, for example, by starting a program that would build tiny homes for people who are experiencing homelessness.

George Vintila, 18, Portage Park

After excelling at Lane Tech College Prep in advanced courses such as AP Physics C Electricity and Mechanics, AP Calculus BC, and AP Computer Science, George will be studying computer engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology this fall. He believes that engineers hold the power to implement ideas to help ease economic inequality. He is excited about what he will learn through studying engineering in college and hopes that his efforts “will contribute to a cycle, where new students learn to engineer and apply their new-found proficiency to help others in need, who will then learn and do the same thing.” At school, George tutored other students through the Physics Club and focused on promoting renewable energies and recycling through the Environmental Club.

For more information about this program, visit ­CTA’s web site at transitchicago.com/rpm/workforce-opportunities or Chicago Scholars’ website at chicagoscholars.org/elevatingfutures.

Currently, COVID-19 is challenging individuals who are looking for training and workforce opportunities as unemployment rates rise. Recognizing a need, now more than ever, for workforce development resources, CTA is hosting webinars connecting local job seekers to construction industry opportunities.

As part of its workforce development efforts for the Red and Purple Modernization Phase One Project, CTA has been hosting a series of webinars called Construction Talks to connect participants to training and workforce opportunities in the construction industry during COVID-19. This virtual program was developed in direct response to the pandemic to ensure that while social distancing measures are being implemented individuals still have access to workforce development resources.

Each webinar provides apprenticeship details and a Q&A portion for the attendees to ask questions in real-time, as well as virtual tours of the hosting organizations, which include workforce assistance and community organizations and government agencies.  CTA has hosted five webinars with over 150 attendees collectively.

The next two Construction Talks will take place on Friday, June 26 at 12:00pm and Friday, July 10 at 12:00pm. Links to the registration pages are below –

• Friday, June 26 at 12pm: Click here
• Friday, July 10 at 12pm:  Click here

CTA and RPM Contractor Walsh-Fluor team up with LISC Chicago to help small firms get the financial and business capacity they need to compete for large-scale capital projects in Chicago like RPM

As the CTA begins the largest construction project in its history, the $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One project, the agency announced today the launch of its “CTA Building Small Businesses Program,” a new, innovative program designed to increase small business participation in RPM and other large-scale construction projects by ensuring local entrepreneurs have the financial guidance, support and resources to bid on City contracts. The “CTA Building Small Businesses Program” was developed to provide financial guidance to small businesses and other DBEs by offering direct loan placement and other supports so they can demonstrate the up-front capital needed to compete on large-scale transportation construction and capital programs.

“Chicago was built by small businesses more than 180 years ago, and if we want to continue building on sustainable, affordable and reliable access to transportation options in every neighborhood, we have to start by ensuring our local entrepreneurs are a key part of that vision,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “CTA knows first-hand that Chicago’s small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and I applaud President Carter for launching a groundbreaking inclusive process to provide the resources and tools necessary to stay on the right track and work with the City on large-scale projects so we can continue building a better Chicago together.”

For some small businesses, working on a large construction project requires resources that many firms don’t have, including cash flow that can allow them to purchase materials ahead of being reimbursed, access to loans and other forms of credit, insurance for larger jobs, and access to IT and administrative supports. Without these tools, it can be impossible for many Chicago area small businesses to participate in construction projects.

“We’ve heard from many small businesses that it can be extremely difficult and intimidating to bid on large projects,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “What is groundbreaking about the ‘CTA Building Small Businesses Program’ is its holistic, step-by-step approach to help DBEs build the financial capacity and the business acumen to work on large projects for CTA and across the state.”

The program has been created through a partnership between the CTA, RPM contractor Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC Chicago). The program consists of free capacity-building workshops for small businesses that are certified as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) or that are interested in becoming DBE-certified.

The RPM project and LISC Chicago partnership was one of 12 partnerships in Chicago that was recently identified for funding support from the Chicago Community Trust, The Coleman Foundation, JPMorgan Chase and Robert R. McCormick Foundation

The program provides one-on-one financial guidance and helps with prequalifying for loan packages. Firms that do not immediately prequalify for financing will be given access to direct loan placement for financial needs like mobilization, working capital for payroll, equipment and other cash flow needs. The program includes education on insurance and bonding. Qualifying firms can also receive back-office support, technical assistance and other business training.

Beyond helping DBEs compete, the program aims to grow the number of DBEs in the state, currently at about 2,000, and to encourage more of them to do business with CTA.

The first in a series of these free programs was held in September and a second program was held Oct. 24-25. Already, 45 Chicago area small businesses have participated this fall and many are moving forward with LISC Chicago to build the capacity to be ready to bid for sub-contract work on RPM, including becoming loan-ready to build their business. Currently, multiple participants are pursuing loan opportunities and competing for work on the RPM Phase One Project. The next working sessions are scheduled for Nov. 21-22 at the Austin African American Business Networking Association (AAABNA) headquarters, 5820 W. Chicago:

Workshop — Thursday, Nov. 21
3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Networking
4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Two-hour workshop
The two-hour workshop will describe how to obtain financing and other back office support for your business. Participants will have the opportunity to talk directly to lenders but are required to attend the workshop to participate in one-on-one assessments with lenders.

One-on-one assessments – Thursday, Nov. 21 and Friday, Nov. 22
Nov. 21 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Nov. 22 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Participants can select their 30-minute one-on-one session when they register. Registration info is here.

The “CTA Building Small Businesses Program” is made possible in partnership with LISC Chicago, a leading community development support organization. LISC brings a network of neighborhood financial opportunity centers and other partners to provide financial education, financial products to build credit and assets and a network of community partners to offer technical assistance for these small businesses.

LISC is leveraging support for this program through its Entrepreneurs of Color Fund, a partnership with JPMorgan Chase, Fifth Third Bank, US Bank, Providence Bank and First Midwest Bank, to provide flexible and low-cost loan capital to minority entrepreneurs on Chicago’s south and west sides. In addition, the Businesses of Color Partnerships Fund led by the Chicago Community Trust, The Coleman Foundation, JPMorgan Chase Foundation and Robert R. McCormick Foundation is providing grant funding to support the program.

“The Walsh-Fluor team is working hard to help these small businesses succeed,” said Project Executive David Shier.

For more information about the project, contact the CTA’s Diversity Department by emailing diversity@transitchicago.com or calling (312) 681-2600.