Bridges Chicago
IL · Since 1990
The Chicago Bridges program began in 1990. Chicago Bridges serves in-school and out-of-school young adults ages 17-24, partnering with Chicago Public Schools to connect young adults with disabilities to competitive employment.
6,694
Young adults served since 1990
4,694
Placements since 1990
79%
90-day retention (2025)
2,702+
Employer partners
125
Schools served
About this program
Bridges Chicago is based in the Loop at 1 S. Dearborn Street and serves young adults ages 17 to 24 across the city of Chicago. The program partners with Chicago Public Schools to identify students who can benefit from career readiness support, and works alongside local workforce and human-service systems to connect young adults to real jobs.
Chicago is one of the longest-running sites in the Bridges network. Founded in 1990, a year after the original Washington program, the Chicago program has prepared young adults with disabilities for competitive employment, placed them with local employers, and stayed involved through their first year on the job for more than three decades.
The Chicago program partners with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership and the Illinois Department of Human Services on referral pathways and employment services. Placement and support cycles run year-round rather than as a single annual cohort, so referrals can begin at any point in the school year.
Like every Bridges site, the Chicago program is free for participants and their families. A Youth Employment Specialist works one-on-one with each young adult to identify career goals, develop interviewing skills, connect with employers, create a résumé, apply for jobs, get a job, and succeed in a job. After a placement, the same specialist supports the new hire through the first year of employment, coordinating with the employer's HR team and following up at 30, 60, and 90-day milestones. The program is funded through grants, donations, and corporate giving. There is no tuition, and no fee to the employer.
The Chicago office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm, with meeting times by appointment.
The Chicago network
Who we work with in Chicago.
Employers hiring our participants
Local partners and districts
- Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
Illinois Department of Human Services
125
schools in the Chicago service area.
View all 125 schools →Hide list ↑
Pathways in Education - Brighton Park High School
Chicago Public Schools
William Howard Taft
Chicago Public Schools
Pathways in Education - Avondale High School
Chicago Public Schools
Simeon Career Academy
Chicago Public Schools
Lincoln Park High School
Chicago Public Schools
Morgan Park High School
Chicago Public Schools
Ombudsman Northwest
Chicago Public Schools
Noble-Mansueto High School
Chicago Public Schools
Intrinsic High School
Charter
STEINMETZ HIGH SCHOOL
Chicago Public Schools
Wells Community Academy High School
Chicago Public Schools
Curie Metro High School
Chicago Public Schools
Lane Tech
Chicago Public Schools
KENNEDY HIGH SHCOOL
Chicago Public Schools
Ombudsman South
Chicago Public Schools
SULLIVAN HIGH SCHOOL
Chicago Public Schools
JOHN MARSHALL
Chicago Public Schools
CICS - Northtown
Charter
LAKEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
Chicago Public Schools
Pathways in Education - Ashburn High School
Chicago Public Schools
Roger C. Sullivan High School
Chicago Public Schools
Hyde Park Career Academy
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Agricultural High School
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Technology Academy High School
Chicago Public Schools
Roberto Clemente High School
Chicago Public Schools
Senn High School
Chicago Public Schools
World Language High School
Charter
Solorio Academy High School
Chicago Public Schools
Infinity Math & Science Academy
Charter
Multicultural Academy of Scholarship High School
Charter
Social Justice High School
Charter
North Grand High School
Chicago Public Schools
Pathways in Education - Humboldt Park High School
Chicago Public Schools
Alcott College Prep West
Charter
Bogan High School
Chicago Public Schools
Bowen High School
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago High School for the Arts
Chicago Public Schools
Juarez High School
Chicago Public Schools
KENWOOD ACADEMY
Chicago Public Schools
Perspectives - Leadership Academy
Charter
Perspectives Rodney D Joslin Campus
Charter
Morton West High School
J. Sterling Morton HS Dist. 201
Ombudsman West
Chicago Public Schools
Roosevelt High School
Chicago Public Schools
J Sterling Morton East High School
J. Sterling Morton HS Dist. 201
Noble Street College Prep
Charter
North Lawndale-Christiana
Charter
Oak Park River Forest High School
Oak Park and River Forest
Prosser Career Academy
Chicago Public Schools
RAY GRAHAM TRAINING CENTER
Chicago Public Schools
Vaughn Occupational High School
Chicago Public Schools
Westinghouse High School
Chicago Public Schools
Baker College Prep
Charter
Butler College Prep
Charter
Chicago Bulls College Prep
Charter
Douglass Academy
Chicago Public Schools
DRW College Prep
Charter
Dunbar Vocational Career Academy
Chicago Public Schools
Foreman High School
Chicago Public Schools
Gary Comer College Prep
Charter
George Washington High School
Chicago Public Schools
Muchin College Prep
Charter
PERCY L. JULIAN .
Chicago Public Schools
Perspectives/IIT Math & Science Academy
Charter
WHITNEY YOUNG MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL
Chicago Public Schools
Amundsen High School
Chicago Public Schools
Catalyst Maria High School
Chicago Public Schools
CICS - Chicagoquest
Charter
Excel Academy
Charter
Farragut Career Academy
Chicago Public Schools
Golder College Prep
Charter
Greater Lawndale High School for Social Justice
Chicago Public Schools
Hirsch High School
Chicago Public Schools
Legal Prep Charter Academy
Chicago Public Schools
Rauner College Prep
Charter
Uplift Community High School
Chicago Public Schools
Urban Prep Academy-Englewood
Charter
Acacia Academy
Private
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
Cook County HS Dist. 200
Austin High School Campus
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Military Academy- Bronzville
Chicago Public Schools
CICS Ralph Ellison High School
Charter
Cornerstone Academy
Private
Deerfield High School
DeVry University Advantage Academy
Chicago Public Schools
Disney II Magnet School
Dyett Academic Center
Chicago Public Schools
Epic Academy
Charter
Evanston Township High School
Evanston Township
Hansberry College Prep
Leo High School
Chicago Parochial
McKinley Lakeside Leadership Academy
Youth Connection Charter School
New Trier Township High School
New Trier Township
North Chicago Community High School
Phoenix Military Academy
Chicago Public Schools
Ridgewood Community High School
Victor J. Andrew High School
YCCS - Austin Career Education Center
Charter
Art in Motion High School
Charter
Campos High School
Chicago Academy For the Arts
Collins High School
Community Christian Alternative Academy
De La Salles Institute
Chicago Parochial
HARLAN HIGH SHCOOL
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Johnson College Prep
Jones College Prep
Kelvyn Park High School
Manley Career Academy
Mather High School
Michelle Clark High School
Ogden International School of Chicago
Ombudsman Roseland
Perspectives High School of Technology
Pritzker College Prep
Richard T. Crane Medical Preparatory High School
Sarah E. Goode Stem Academy
Schurz High School
SOUTHSIDE OCCUPATIONAL ACADEMY
Thomas Kelly High School
TILDEN HIGH SCHOOL
University of Chicago Charter School Woodlawn
Urban Prep Academy-Bronzeville
Walter Payton College Prep High School
Meet the team
Working alongside young adults and employers in Chicago.
Specialists & support team
Avery Wells
Youth Employment Specialist
avery.wells@bridgestowork.orgBailey Weiss
Youth Employment Specialist
bailey.weiss@bridgestowork.orgBrynn Dumalski
Youth Employment Specialist
brynn.dumalski@bridgestowork.orgCourtney Eibling
Administrative Assistant II
courtney.eibling@bridgestowork.orgAlso supports Atlanta, Philadelphia
Cynthia Nicita
Senior Youth Employment Specialist
cynthia.nicita@bridgestowork.orgMaggie McAleer
Grants/Contracts Manager
maggie.mcaleer@bridgestowork.orgNatalie Krejci
Youth Employment Specialist
natalie.krejci@bridgestowork.orgOrnelise St. Louis
Senior Youth Employment Specialist
ornelise.st.louis@bridgestowork.orgShannon McCabe
Senior Youth Employment Specialist
shannon.mccabe@bridgestowork.org
Office
Common questions
Bridges Chicago, answered.
- Does Bridges from School to Work serve Chicago?
- Yes. Bridges has operated in Chicago since 1990, helping young adults with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep competitive jobs with local employers.
- Is Bridges Chicago free?
- Yes. Bridges is always free for participants and their families, and there is no fee to employers. The program is funded through grants, donations, and corporate giving.
- Who is eligible for Bridges Chicago?
- Bridges serves young adults with disabilities who are preparing to enter the workforce, including both in-school students and out-of-school job seekers. The quickest way to check eligibility is to start an interest form or take the eligibility quiz on this site.
- How does Bridges Chicago work?
- Bridges follows a Prepare, Place, Support model: one-on-one job-readiness coaching, strength-based matching with local employers, and a dedicated Youth Employment Specialist who stays involved for a full year after a participant is hired.
- What kinds of employers hire through Bridges Chicago?
- Bridges Chicago places young adults with local and national employers across retail, hospitality, food service, healthcare, logistics, and other industries, including JPMorgan Chase, Jewel-Osco, Mariano's, PetSmart, among many others.
- How do I get started with Bridges Chicago?
- Start an interest form on this website, or contact the Chicago team directly using the office details on this page. A Youth Employment Specialist will follow up to talk through next steps.
- Where is the Bridges Chicago office?
- The Bridges Chicago office is located at 1 S. Dearborn Street, Suite 20-112, Chicago, IL 60603. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm; meeting times by appointment.
Ready to connect with Bridges Chicago?
Whether you're looking for support, want to hire talent, or are interested in partnering, we'd love to hear from you.