Business
Austin Community Hub Creating New Opportunities for West Side Residents
What was once a shuttered school has become a community hub in Austin, providing new opportunities for a neighborhood that has long faced disinvestment.
Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together, leads the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation in Austin. He described the center as a comprehensive resource for the West Side community.
In 2013, Emmet Elementary School was one of 50 schools closed by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools. The Westside Health Authority and Austin Coming Together collaborated to redevelop the vacant building.
“I love that my community stood up and said, ‘Hey, no more. We have to gain control,’” Shields said. “And that’s what they did, and folks put together a vision.”
In addition to offering workshops, the three-story building provides a variety of programs and resources to the community through different organizations.
One such service comes from the Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC), which operates manufacturing training programs inside Aspire.
Cedric Webb is a participant in the free training program.
“Somebody took the time to invest in Austin,” Webb said. “Every time I come in here, I’m still in awe. … Whether it’s JARC or any other programs that are in here, this place can change your life.”
The Austin neighborhood has a long history of disinvestment. But Shields said he’s optimistic this initiative will open doors for local youth and adults, empowering them with career training and support.
“It was a great intention with this development,” Shields said. “That’s why the design is so grand — to serve as this beacon because we wanted to make a point that, no, we can break that cycle.”
Austin native Alyssa Sherman said introducing something new and accessible to residents will start creating a new mindset.
“Don’t think small, think big — as big as possible,” Sherman said. “That way we can work towards it, rather than trying to say, ‘Oh no, that can’t happen out here.’ No, think big so that way we can learn new processes and new strategies to get to that level.”
