Manufacturing Connect: Partnering with Chicago Public Schools

Photo of recent fieldtrip to Matot in Bellwood, IL As Manufacturing Renaissance keeps training young people for jobs in the manufacturing sector, the organization is working to build its capacity to deliver programming in Chicago’s public schools. That’s what has been happening early this year, as the organization takes steps to work directly with four […]

A Look at the Future: Students Visit the International Manufacturing Technology Show

For 74 students from John Marshall Metropolitan High School on Chicago’s West Side, the world of manufacturing opened up their eyes  in new ways in September. Students attended the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), which was held by the Association for Manufacturing Technology in Chicago between September 12 and September 17. Staff from Manufacturing Renaissance […]

Manufacturing Connect: Participants Hopeful as They Finish the Program

As the school year ends this year, participants in the Renaissance’s 12-week Manufacturing Connect program had a milestone to celebrate – the successful completion of this nationally recognized career pathways program. Twenty-one students from 11 different high schools who completed the technical training course participated in an in-person event on May 18 at Daley College. […]

Resolution Introduced in Chicago’s City Council to Endorse the Manufacturing Reinvestment Corporation Act

On March 23, 2022, Alderman Michael Rodriguez, Ward 22 representing Little Village, North Lawndale and surrounding communities,  submitted a resolution to endorse the Manufacturing Corporation Reinvestment Act (HR5124).  In short, this resolution acknowledges: The importance of the intersection between manufacturing and education and career and technical education in the City of Chicago towards building a […]

Thurgood Marshall College Fund: Focus on Career Pathways

In the last year, Manufacturing Renaissance has played a key role in partnering with organizations and building a coalition to raise awareness of the need to grow the manufacturing sector in this country in an equitable and sustainable way. This effort has helped lead to the introduction of HR5124 –The Manufacturing Reinvestment Corporation Act—by Illinois […]

Coalition Launches New Website to Advocate for Congressional Manufacturing Industry Investment

The Time is Now.  The Website is Here. On February 4, 2022 MR and the Manufacturing Renaissance Campaign Coalition officially launched their new website dedicated to showcase the advancement of national manufacturing industry legislation, progressive policies and programming, and a call for significant investment in advanced skills training and education.  Over 60 guests tuned-in as […]

Mfg Day 2021: An Inside Look

What’s it like to work in a manufacturing company? What kind of opportunities are available? These are the kinds of questions asked by participants in Manufacturing Connect, Manufacturing Renaissance’s program that exposes, inspires, and prepares young adults for the field. Participants in the program had a chance to learn about the field this fall at […]

Success Story: Isaiah, Future Fabricator

Photo of Mieka Matthews, MC Coordinator and Isaiah McMullen, MC Participant at his high school graduation. It started with an opportunity. When Isaiah McMullen was a student at the Academy of Scholastic Achievement, a nonprofit public alternative school on Chicago’s west side, he was interested in welding and manufacturing. A school counselor referred him to […]