Genesys Works - Chicago

Hispanic Heritage Month is here, and at Genesys Works Chicago, we're celebrating the Hispanic and Latino students who bring their talent, resilience, and ambition into every classroom, corporate office, and internship they walk into.

This month and every month, we're proud to support young people who are building professional skills, gaining real corporate experience, and setting the pace for their futures, all while carrying forward the culture, language, and traditions that shape who they are.

To our Hispanic and Latino students: your accomplishments inspire us, and your story is far from finished. We can't wait to see what you build next.

Happy Labor Day weekend from all of us at Genesys Works Chicago!

Our team will be out of office starting today, September 4th, returning Tuesday, September 8th. This weekend, we're grateful for the hardworking students, staff, and partners who make our mission possible every single day.

See you back here Tuesday!

Genesys Works Chicago is bringing together Chicago's business and civic leaders for an evening of connection with purpose.

Join us for Cocktails & Conversations on Thursday, October 22nd from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, hosted by Harrison Street Asset Management (217 N. Sangamon Street, Suite 700).

Every ticket and sponsorship directly supports our mission: helping Chicago Public Schools seniors launch their careers through paid corporate internships, professional skills training, and job readiness programs.

Purchase a ticket or explore sponsorship opportunities, including our "Powered By..." Food & Beverage Sponsorship with premium visibility and event recognition.

Register today: https://rebrand.ly/GWCFCC26

🎉 Our 2025 Annual Impact Report is here — Stronger Together.

This year marked Genesys Works Chicago's 15th anniversary: $25 million invested directly into Chicago neighborhoods through our young professionals' paychecks and career growth, 1,500+ students served, and alumni earning a median income of $70,000 while completing bachelor's degrees at nearly 3x the rate of their peers.

But the numbers only tell part of it. This is Yadira Serna, who started as a junior at Hubbard High School and is now a Senior Lead Financial Analyst at TransUnion, overseeing forecasts on $300M+ in investments. It's Manny Robles, now in cybersecurity at Liberty Mutual, who says Genesys Works "gave me confidence, it gave me a voice." It's partners like iManage, who've invested over $1 million and hired three of our alumni full-time — proof of what sustained belief in young talent can produce.

None of this happens without our corporate partners, school champions, donors, and friends showing up for our young people, year after year.

Read the full report 👉 https://rebrand.ly/GWC25AIR

🎙️ New episode alert! Genesys Works Chicago is featured on Dynasty Podcasts.

Genesys Works sits down with Sean Neilsen, Manager of Talent Pathways at Relativity, to talk about creating career training opportunities for Chicagoland high schoolers.

Sean discusses why bringing on Genesys Works students aligns with Relativity's social impact mission, and how the internship equips students with real career skills at a leading data software company.

This is what partnership in action looks like — connecting talented students to real careers, and giving companies like Relativity a chance to invest directly in Chicago's future workforce.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://dynastypodcasts.substack.com/p/genesys-works-is-providing-career

Interested in hosting a Genesys Works Chicago intern and creating opportunities like this at your company? Reach out to Jermaine Donaldson, Senior Director of Business Development, to learn more.

A huge thank you to Relativity for their continued partnership and belief in our students, and to Dynasty Podcasts for sharing this story.

Our Letter to the Editor ran in the Chicago Tribune today, and we are proud to be part of this conversation.

Every summer, Chicago's teen takeover debate returns. And every summer, the same question goes unanswered: what are we actively offering young people instead?

Our Executive Director Holly Zann put it plainly in today's Tribune: Chicago's young people bring plenty of energy and ambition. What they need are opportunities that take them seriously, connect their effort today to a future they can picture, and treat them as the capable contributors they already are.

For over fifteen years, that has been the work of Genesys Works Chicago. Paid corporate internships. Real skills training. Mentorship from business partners across the city. Students who leave our program do not just have a job experience. They have a professional network, a resume, and a concrete sense of where their lives can go.

Youth opportunity is not a soft alternative to addressing public safety. It is one of the most direct investments a city can make. We are grateful to the Chicago Tribune for giving this perspective a platform, and we welcome every leader, partner, and organization ready to bring it to the table.

Read the full letter here:

Letters: Regarding teen takeovers, young Chicagoans have told us what we need to do Chicago’s young people have been clear: The traditional youth programs many cities lean on have lost their appeal with this generation.

Class 17 has arrived, and we could not be more excited to welcome them!

Today marked the first day of summer training for our newest cohort of young professionals at Genesys Works Chicago, and our staff made sure they felt the energy from the moment they walked through the door. Pom-poms and all.

Summer training is where it begins: the professional development, the skill-building, and the community that will carry our young professionals through their corporate internship experiences and beyond. Watching a new class step into this chapter is a reminder of exactly why we do this work.

Welcome, Class 17. We are cheering for you.

Today, we pause to honor Juneteenth. A day that marks not just the end of legal enslavement, but the radical, enduring promise of freedom.

At Genesys Works Chicago, we believe that promise is still being fulfilled. It lives in every student who walks through the door of a corporate office for the first time, earns a paycheck in their own name, and begins to see themselves as a professional with a future worth building.

Freedom is not only a legal declaration. It is access. It is opportunity. It is the chance to develop real skills in real environments alongside people who believe in your potential.

On this day, we are reminded of why our work matters and who we are doing it for. To our students, our alumni, and every family that has trusted us with the futures of those they love most: we see you. We honor you. And we remain committed to the work.

Happy Juneteenth.

🎉 Join us in celebrating Shaan as GWC’s Employee of the Month! 🎉

As a CIBC Intern, Shaan recognizes the potential in every opportunity and consistently shows up with intention, curiosity, and drive. He builds strong connections, brings peers into the fold, and approaches his work with a proactive, collaborative mindset.

His commitment to growth is unmistakable. Whether it’s a workshop, special event, or informational interview, Shaan takes full advantage of every development opportunity. He knows his strengths, stays humble, brings humor to his work, and isn’t afraid to ask questions - a combination that has fueled his success throughout the internship.

We at Genesys Works are incredibly proud of the excellence and authenticity Shaan brings each day. Thank you to CIBC for providing such a meaningful and supportive space for our Young Professionals, like Shaan, to learn, contribute, and thrive.

Genesys Works Chicago is thrilled to welcome Holly Zann as our new Executive Director, effective June 15, 2026.

Holly brings more than 18 years of nonprofit executive experience in education and workforce development. Her deep expertise in multi-site programming, stakeholder engagement, and organizational leadership, combined with her personal commitment to expanding access and opportunity for young people, makes her the ideal leader to advance our mission in Chicago.

We are excited for the chapter ahead. Welcome, Holly!