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Phalanx Family Services is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping remove employment barriers for Chicago residents. The agency began working with low-income black communities in 2003 and continues to do so by consistently seeking funding for those in need of assistance.
The organization’s prime objective is finding permanent solutions needed to reverse the decline of Chicago’s workforce. Services offered by Phalanx are available to all residents of Chicago and its outlying suburbs. By doing so, this provides assistance to those seeking opportunities in the job market and information about other beneficial programs available to assist them.
Phalanx provides programs ranging from job training to paid work experience and mentoring for youth and seniors. Phalanx partners with Mayor Rahm Emanual’s One Summer Chicago program, which offers those ages 14 to 24 employment and internship opportunities.
Another program Phalanx works with is Thrive Chicago. Phalanx serves as the Roseland Reconnection Hub Thrive serves a population of teens and young adults between the ages of 16 to 24, who have dropped out of school, do not have high school diplomas, and those who are unemployed.
Phalanx collaborates with agencies such as the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Juvenile Intervention Support Center to provide classroom learning activities for school-age kids. Students have the opportunity to learn about anger management and develop coping mechanisms to give them a chance to get back on track for graduation.
Also available is the service learning hours program for high school students. This coincides with secure job placement outside of school hours.
Cannon views the program’s main function as a restorative process where they can offer instruction to people for on-the-job readiness before sending them to apply for employment. These include a series of classes to prepare for work interviews and learn about expectations found in a business environment.
In many cases, there are clients who do not have access to their workplace. To overcome this barrier, Phalanx arranges for free public transit passes.
Ride to Work is a project for men and women re-entering society after incarceration. They are given an instant job placement opportunity. The program was designed because members of this population usually have little-to-no resources, which creates barriers to obtaining a job.
Overall, Phalanx has 27 programs and over a dozen services dedicated to improving the lives of “economically disadvantaged children and families in the pursuit of self-sufficiency,” according to the agency’s website.
Phalanx provides the finances to pay The News School students and interns. The author of this article, Brielle Buford, is a graduate of the program and works as an intern, doing interviews and producing reports of current events and news.
Leading a team of dedicated Phalanx staff are CEO Mrs. Tina Sanders, President Gladstone Sanders, and the Director of Operations, Laura Bailey. They oversee the program and its relationships with other organizations and businesses. Moreover, they represent a not-for-profit organization that depends on secure funding sources and contributions.
Written by Brielle R. Buford
Edited by Cathy Milne
Source:
Interview: James Cannon; 8/16/2018
Image Courtesy of Gricelda Chandler – Used with Permission