Member Spotlight: Greater West Town Project
Empowering Communities on Chicago’s West Side
Greater West Town Project (GWTP) is dedicated to expanding educational and economic opportunities for low-income communities of color in Chicago. Focusing on the West Side neighborhoods of Humboldt Park, East and West Garfield Park, Belmont Cragin, Austin, and North Lawndale, GWTP has been serving these highly barriered communities for over 35 years.
Training and Education Programs
GWTP offers a range of programs designed to help individuals build skills and secure employment. These include Occupational Skills Training in woodworking and shipping & receiving, job readiness training and placement through the Career Pathways program, and two alternative high schools: West Town Academy and YCCS West High School. Their commitment to community empowerment is evident in their diverse and inclusive staffing, with over 95% of participants identifying as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC).
Success Story: Brilliance Swan
One recent success story highlights Brilliance Swan, a graduate of GWTP’s woodworking training. Brilliance, who was initially searching for work, discovered GWTP through a flier at the Boys and Girls Club. Despite having no prior experience in woodworking, he embraced the challenge and quickly learned essential skills like wood identification, shaping, and math applied to the trade.
With the support of GWTP’s Career Pathways staff, Brilliance secured a job as a Project Crew Tech at the Museum of Science and Industry, where he played a key role in launching the special exhibit, 007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond. Reflecting on his experience, Brilliance shared, “GWTP has a multitude of opportunities... I would highly recommend GWTP to anyone.”
Commitment to Equity and Advocacy
GWTP’s leadership and staff reflect the communities they serve, with 100% of the Board of Directors, 86% of leadership, and 84% of staff identifying as BIPOC. The organization is committed to continuous program evaluation with a racial equity focus, which has led to significant program enhancements, such as the recent addition of financial and digital literacy programming.
Although GWTP's capacity for advocacy work has fluctuated, they prioritize participation in coalitions like the Chicago Jobs Council (CJC) to maximize their legislative impact. They encourage other CJC members to engage with other organizations actively and use CJC's tools to advocate for change within their own communities.
