House of Blues concert pairs Chicago music with energy career exploration

A free concert at Chicago’s House of Blues will bring music and career exploration together Wednesday, introducing young adults to work across the energy industry. Energy Up Chicago, at 329 N. Dearborn St., is designed to connect residents from underserved communities with employers, mentors and information about potential career paths. Organizers say the event is already at capacity.

The National Urban League, Chicago Urban League and Center for Energy Workforce Development are partnering on the event, with philanthropic support from Invest in Our Future. BabyChiefDoIt is expected to headline, with guests Star Bandz and Mother Nature. Power 92’s DJ Pharris and DJ Nephets are also scheduled to provide DJ sets.

Beyond the performances, the event combines employer engagement, mentorship and career exploration. The approach is intended to reach young adults who may not have considered energy work and help them understand the range of available occupations. For Chicago residents exploring their next step, that includes opportunities outside traditional utility jobs.

The industry encompasses construction, manufacturing, engineering, cybersecurity, information technology, skilled trades, environmental services and business operations. Examples described by organizers include building solar farms, manufacturing batteries and turbines, and planning for changes in electricity supply and demand. Many energy career paths can begin with an apprenticeship, certification or technical training rather than a four-year degree.

Energy Up Chicago is part of the Energy Jobs Program, a partnership between the Urban League and the Center for Energy Workforce Development. The program links energy companies with local Urban League affiliates, which recruit candidates and help prepare them through community-based training, mentoring and workforce-readiness programs. The Chicago Urban League contributes local relationships and workforce experience to that effort.

According to National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial’s account of the initiative, the program has placed nearly 500 people into energy careers over four years across Chicago and four other cities. Participants earned an average starting wage of $21 an hour. Those figures describe the multi-city program, not Chicago placements alone, but provide context for the workforce effort behind Wednesday’s concert.