Life’s recent challenges had left Elizabeth Davis feeling defeated.
As she was trying to reenter the workforce following a battle with cancer, flooding in Davis’ apartment ruined many of her belongings.
It would have been easy for her to give up on her job training program at the Food Depository – several weeks of classes covering the ins and outs of the warehousing and supply chain industries.
But with the help of her family and staff at the Food Depository, Davis stuck with it. She completed her programs with not only new skills and a new job; she also learned more about her ability to persevere.
“It made me realize, I can do this. I just have to put it in my mindset, put it as a goal and accomplish it. Just knowing that someone is with you and rooting for you to do well and then you prove that you can do it, it’s beautiful.”
Elizabeth Davis, graduate of the Food Depository’s Certified Logistics Associate program
Davis, 51, is a graduate of the Food Depository’s Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) training. Students like Davis leave the program with certifications to operate forklift vehicles including reach trucks and other warehouse equipment.
Launched in 2021, the CLA program is one of four workforce development programs offered in fiscal year 2022 to help create job opportunities for unemployed or underemployed Cook County residents looking for roles in the supply chain and hospitality industries. CLA takes a multifaceted approach to instruction. A partnership with Moraine Valley Community College provides in-person classroom teaching while students also receive hands-on instruction with the Food Depository’s operations team. And in 2022, new forklift simulators were incorporated into the warehouse training to allow operators to hone skills and enhance safety training.
A total of 100 students completed a workforce development program in fiscal year 2022 to start their new careers.
All programs are paid and offer a completion bonus, in addition to specialized professional certifications. In fiscal year 2022, 78% of people who started a workforce development program successfully completed it. And 74% of those who passed the course went on to either receive and accept an offer of employment or chose to pursue further professional development.
Just as importantly, staff and students provide the support network and encouragement that builds confidence for people entering the workforce for the first time or overcoming employment challenges. People like Davis, who worried about not having any warehouse experience before starting the program. She said that encouragement from the teachers and fellow students made even the challenging parts, like learning how to operate the warehouse machinery, easier to pick up.
After graduating, Davis was hired as an office agent for an airline at O’Hare International Airport, helping manage the various imports and exports that come through each day. Her newfound knowledge of warehouse operations, she said, makes it easier to navigate this new role. She is also grateful to be back in the workforce.
“To be doing for myself and getting on my own career path…it feels great,” Davis said.
The Food Depository addresses the root causes of hunger by helping to alleviate poverty through creating economic opportunities. Because of supporter generosity, we can offer programs that connect students with employers offering a livable wage and long-term career success.
