Congratulations to Our Summer 2025 ComEd Youth CONSTRUCT Graduates!

The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is proud to announce the graduation of our summer cohorts from the 2025 ComEd CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Youth Academy. The academy program is designed to introduce rising high school juniors and seniors to trade careers in the energy sector. Over the course of three weeks, participants at the South Side YMCA in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood and the Kelly Hall YMCA in Humboldt Park engaged in hands-on training, explored infrastructure career paths, and built critical workforce skills. This summer’s program concluded with two joyful graduation ceremonies celebrating a new generation of young people stepping confidently into their futures. 

“This summer, the YMCA of Metro Chicago proudly celebrated 46 young people graduating from our Summer Youth Construct program,” said Agneis Schultz, Vice President of Community Innovation and Impact for the YMCA of Metro Chicago. “This success is a true testament to what’s possible when community organizations and industry leaders come together.” 

Participants gained exposure to entry-level trade roles like Construction Worker and Overhead Helper, visited ComEd training facilities, and received a stipend upon completion. Beyond real-world and professional skills, they left with a better understanding of what’s possible and what they’re capable of. The 2025 program also saw a notable increase in female participation. According to Michelle Contreras, YMCA of Metro Chicago Program Impact Manager, 32% of this summer’s participants were female, with 10 female participants at the South Side Y and five at the Kelly Hall Y. This is a meaningful jump from 25% in 2024. 

For many participants, this was their first step into a career pathway that they hadn’t considered before. For others, this program provided a chance to build on family legacies. 

At the South Side Y graduation, program participant Alyssa J. delivered a powerful speech reflecting on her experience. Her connection to the program runs deep as her sister, a ComEd employee, also graduated from the adult CONSTRUCT program. 

The program was also supported by peer leadership. Among them was Roxana M., a returning participant from the 2024 summer and 2025 spring break cohorts and an alum of Water Works, a 12-week training YMCA of Metro Chicago program that introduces young adults to water and infrastructure career opportunities through hands-on learning and professional development. Drawing on that experience, she served as a junior mentor to both cohorts, offering insight and support to her fellow students. 

“Our partnership with ComEd continues to create meaningful opportunities for youth to gain the skills, confidence, and support that they need to succeed in the workforce and throughout life,” Schultz continued. “We’re honored to stand alongside ComEd in building brighter futures, one graduate at a time.” 

Congratulations to our 2025 graduates, we can’t wait to see where your journey leads next! 

For more information about upcoming programs, email [email protected] or visit ymcachicago.org/ComEd-CONSTRUCT.