By many measures, Chicago is a global city -- a tourist mecca rich in culture, commerce, and urban vitality. But beyond the city’s core, certain neighborhoods face deep challenges. While high unemployment and crime plague some sections of the South and West sides, an abundance of jobs, opportunities and amenities in other neighborhoods speaks volumes about the socioeconomic disparities that leave many of the city’s residents feeling left behind.

The Healthcare Workforce Collaborative which launched the workforce program at Advocate Trinity Hospital in Chicago’s South Side, offers hope for boosting employment and creating a new path for Chicagoans who are struggling to find good paying jobs and get themselves on a pathway to financial stability.

The Collaborative also includes a broader group of area medical centers working together to solve shared workforce issues, such as lowering barriers for people with criminal backgrounds and educating employers to better prepare trainees for employment. At their core, these efforts and the organizations leading them are transforming the workforce system to the benefit of employers and community members like Ward. Together, they’re also serving as an example for employers in other cities and communities to replicate across the United States and represent JPMorgan Chase’s commitment to scale innovative and successful programs that are making an impact on the ground.

Read the full article by Brenda Richardson on Forbes