Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: Inside JumpHire’s Mission

In neighborhoods throughout Chicago’s West Side, the path to a stable job often comes with invisible barriers. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago experienced a 4.3% decrease in jobs between 2001 and 2020, with the steepest declines hitting the majority-Black and majority-Latinx communities. In contrast, majority-White neighborhoods with high college attainment saw lower unemployment rates and higher incomes. This divide reflects a reality that too often equates a four-year degree with competence, overlooking the many skilled individuals who take different paths.

At the Tullman Family Office, we believe a degree should not define someone’s potential. Immense untapped talent exists across the City of Chicago: people with strong work ethic, lived experience, and real-world skills. When employers rely too heavily on formal credentials, they risk missing out on capable candidates who are ready to contribute, and in doing so, businesses are leaving valuable opportunities on the cutting room floor.

JumpHire, an organization fully funded by the Tullman Family Office, is actively working to close the gap between employment and educational attainment in the heart of Chicago. By equipping job seekers with the skills, support, and connections they need to succeed, JumpHire is helping employers tap into a dynamic and often overlooked talent pool. JumpHire offers hands-on training combined with holistic support services to its participants, including childcare assistance, transportation, and mental health resources. JumpHire’s workforce programs focus on high-demand health industry tracks, such as Pharmacy Technician, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Supply Chain, and Support Services roles, directly leading to strong job placement options with opportunities for career advancement.

JumpHire’s mission is to ensure that each participant lands a family-sustaining career upon completing the program. For JumpHire, community is more than geography or identity—it’s a network of relationships and mutual support built on shared values, collective goals, and a commitment to uplifting one another. That community focus comes to life through strong employer partnerships, holistic support, and meaningful, trust-driven relationships between staff and participants.

Partnership in Progress: Angela Romero’s Perspective

JumpHire’s employer partnerships are a vital extension of its community-centered model, providing participants with career-aligned opportunities and giving employers access to well-prepared, motivated candidates. Since its founding in 2022, JumpHire has placed graduates at over 15 job sites through partnerships with organizations like RUSH University Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine, and CVS Pharmacy.

 “Our partners come to us—they see how well our participants perform and want to be a part of that,” shared Program Manager Angela Romero.

As Program Manager, Angela plays a pivotal role in shaping these partnerships and driving the success of each cohort. Under Angela’s facilitation, JumpHire recently adopted a quarterly training model where participants begin by working on soft skills such as interviewing, resume writing, and public speaking, then transition into the career track of their choice. This model thrives on Angela’s close collaboration with employer partners, who offer direct input on the skills and qualities they look for in new hires.

JumpHire continues to expand career opportunities in high-demand industries, and Angela’s efforts have been critical to launching new initiatives like the EMT training program with Superior Ambulance Services. With the health industry’s high demand for employees and the noticeable understaffing of people of color in the EMT field, JumpHire’s partnership with Superior Ambulance Services assists the community with not only employment but representation and visibility in the field. Upon completion of the program, cohort graduates are able to take the NREMT Exam to start their journey in the EMT field.

The success of the most recent class of the program has been attributed to JumpHire’s training model, spearheaded by Angela. Staff at Superior Ambulance Services recognized a huge difference in participants’ punctuality, attendance, and attitude due to JumpHire’s soft skills training at the beginning of the program. 

“JumpHire’s commitment to developing well-rounded students made a tangible difference, and we’re grateful for their partnership,” shared Marco Patino, Education Manager at Superior. “The success of this EMT class is a testament to the collaborative spirit and expertise of both Superior Ambulance Services and JumpHire.”

Through intentional partnerships and industry-informed training, JumpHire is expanding access to high-demand careers and ensuring participants are prepared to thrive in them.

Centering the Participant: LaToya Daniels’ Insight

While partnerships help drive the program forward, the participants themselves are at the heart of JumpHire’s mission. Success Coach LaToya Daniels delivers for participants by offering consistent, personalized support even after graduation. LaToya understands that “success is the little things along the way,” highlighting how JumpHire’s focus extends beyond career training.

LaToya has seen firsthand how powerful the right kind of support can be. One participant, overwhelmed in the classroom, confided in LaToya about her struggles. “She shared how uncomfortable she felt. We paired her with our counseling services, and we watched her transform,” LaToya recalled. In another case, a participant who faced multiple barriers and also connected with counseling services, completed the program and received two job offers, showcasing the endless possibilities that can arise with the right guidance and support.

JumpHire’s holistic resources like childcare assistance, transportation assistance, weekly stipends, and access to mental health care aren’t just add-ons. They’re fundamental to how the organization helps participants grow, both personally and professionally. But this engagement does not stop when the program ends. The relationships built with participants often continue long after graduation. LaToya regularly checks in to see how Jumphire graduates are doing in their careers. 

This lasting commitment makes JumpHire more than a training program—it is an organization fiercely dedicated to stimulating personal growth and transformation.

Marketing through Connections: Yolanda Ponce’s Role

For Marketing Manager Yolanda Ponce, marketing isn’t about promoting a brand—it’s about building genuine connections. “Everyone has their own idea about what marketing is, but at the end of the day, it’s all about optimizing the interactions that a participant has with JumpHire,” she says. At JumpHire, that engagement comes to life through social media, where success stories and honest testimonials draw in new participants.

Since joining JumpHire in December 2024, Yolanda has seen how deeply the community is ingrained in the organization’s mission. She collects testimonials from participants both during their program experience and at the end of each session. This is not only to gather reviews or document their stories, but also to help them reflect on how far they’ve come. Additionally, it inspires them to share their journey with others by recommending JumpHire. For Yolanda, marketing means creating space for people to feel seen, heard, and valued. It’s not only about campaigns or pictures, but about elevating voices and reminding participants about their transformation.

In addition to collaborating closely with the JumpHire team, Yolanda also works to amplify the voices of employer partners, ensuring that storytelling highlights both participant success and the shared investment of those offering opportunities. 

A Community That Works Together

JumpHire demonstrates that real workforce development starts with potential—not credentials. The mission is not just about helping people find jobs—it’s about helping them navigate challenges, build confidence, and step into careers that reflect their purpose and potential. None of this work would be possible without the dedication and hard work of JumpHire’s staff who show up with compassion and zeal. 

By centering community, building genuine connections with participants, and maintaining impactful partnerships, JumpHire shows that access to opportunity and meaningful employment should not be limited to education level or zip code—it should be rooted in connection, support, and belief in human potential.

Learn more at https://www.jumphire.org