Wading Into New Career Opportunities
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is dedicated to advancing the health, happiness, economic vitality and connectedness of all communities. Yet, economic inequality continues to affect millions of individuals and families throughout the Chicagoland region and across the Midwest. The YMCA of Metro Chicago aims to address that challenge. Our work is more than support — we’re fostering genuine trust, independence, and accountability, providing a range of activities, trainings, and resources to identify and reduce inequities. From paid workforce development opportunities to access to affordable housing and technology, we invest in individuals and families in ways that create ripples of impact for all.
Water Works Career-Exploration Program for Youth
In 2024, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago proudly celebrated the successful completion of our first cohort of Water Works, an innovative career-exploration initiative empowering local youth to dive into water related careers. From August to November, participants at three YMCA Community Hubs — the Irving Park, McCormick, and South Side YMCAs — gathered weekly to gain life changing skills, certifications, and information on career opportunities in fields from lifeguarding to oceanography.
Through expert swimming instruction, professional certifications, and bi-weekly field trips, Water Works opened doors for 58 youth, ages 16 to 24, to access meaningful work and future careers. Designed for transition-age youth from underserved communities, the program tackled barriers to water-related jobs and encouraged career paths that many participants had never considered. Thanks to funding from the Illinois Youth Investment Program, Water Works provided training, essential equipment, and a paid stipend, ensuring that participants could focus on their learning and development without financial concerns.
Our first Water Works cohort offered a pathway to employability through swim instruction tailored to individual skill levels, including support for students new to the water. Participants were able to earn lifeguard and swim instructor certifications, which position them for high demand roles in aquatics and recreation, particularly within the YMCA network.
Water Works enriched participants’ experiences through career coaching, soft-skills training, and resume development, equipping them for professional success. Field trips offered real life insights into water-related careers, igniting new aspirations and showing youth the vast potential of careers that, while often overlooked, are both meaningful and lucrative.
“Working with the Water Works team was an incredible opportunity which opened a career path which I never thought would be accessible to me. Through the program I learned so much – about the aquatics industry, about swimming and lifeguarding, and about myself. I'll always be thankful for the doors this program opened for me" said Aria, Irving Park YMCA Water Works participant.