The Work Shop is a two-day program created for Black queer men to help them build the skills needed to secure and maintain stable employment.

The Work Shop curriculum was developed in collaboration between a Black queer psychologist and our community advisory board, comprised of representatives from social service organizations across Chicago. The curriculum was also informed by focus groups held with members of the community - Black men who identify as queer, same gender loving, transgender, and/or bisexual.

We hope you find this program useful, because it was made for you.

Our Guys

A key aspect of the curriculum is following the experiences of three queer Black men who are navigating individual challenges in their unemployment journeys. Each of their stories is unique, and each person comes from a different background. Learn more about these men in the space below:

 
 

Jamal (HE/They)

  • 23-year old college graduate with a degree in communications

  • Ambitious, articulate, sociable

  • Job History: customer service, retail, social media manager, content creator

  • Employment Challenges: hiring discrimination, pressure from family to succeed, feels stuck in cycle of temporary jobs, self-doubt

  • Career Goal: to have a leadership role in marketing

 

Ty (He/Him)

  • 26 years old with GED and years of experience

  • Resourceful, relaxed, with strong familial support

  • Job History: warehouses, landscaping, security

  • Employment Challenges: racism and transphobia at work, judgement based on his educational background

  • Career Goal: to be a restaurant owner

 

Andre (He/Him)

  • 29-year old with a few years of college coursework in psychology

  • Intelligent, determined, stopped college early due to family responsibilities

  • Job History: barista, cashier, administrative assistant

  • Employment Challenges: overqualified for some jobs, underqualified for others, employers lose interest upon seeing him in person

  • Career Goal: to be a therapist