Made in Chicago. By Chicagoans. For Chicagoans.

As a company, our top priority is providing jobs to local residents. We believe that creating manufacturing jobs with good pay, good benefits, and good working conditions is the key to growing the global middle class and aggregate demand that is needed to power the economy. Without good pay, workers cannot become powerful consumers. And without the rights they deserve, workers lack the economic stability they need before making big investments in themselves, their children, and their societies.

As a company, our top priority is to provide jobs to local residents.  We are creating traditional opportunities, that offer benefits (health, dental, 401k), good work environment, profit sharing, and a place to develop them. By creating this social capital, the community begins to change, it creates an ecosystem in which we can be proud. 

These manufacturing jobs are not only a driver of economic growth—they are also the vehicle through which economic growth is broadly shared to raise living standards city-wide.

MEET SOME OF THE TEAM

“Women have a place in manufacturing and we have skills that perfectly contribute to these jobs. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty to get the job done. Whatever I do represents me so I give my all to the things I do. That’s how I know it’s going to be done right. If you have the skills and capability to be successful, you can do whatever you put your mind to do. Do not allow the unknown or unforeseen limit you. See success in your mind, embrace the changes in your journey and claim your own success.”

LaDonna, Logistics Manager

Lyons View’s Partnership with St. Sabina

Violence Intervention Program | STRONG FUTURES

The Strong Futures initiative first began in June 2016 as a pilot by the City of Chicago, Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) in partnership with St. Sabina Church. Strong Futures addresses the needs of disconnected young adult males, between the ages of 18-28, who are justice-involved and/or have other barriers to stability by connecting them with full-time employment.

Strong Futures provides intensive coaching, comprehensive wrap-around services, and support that will enable them to stabilize economically, retain employment, and develop into productive, responsible men in society. Lyons View is proud to partner with Strong Futures, and currently employs young men from the program.

GOALS

The Strong Futures model was designed to create a more efficient way to service young men by connecting them to existing workforces and supportive resources, thereby paving a way for them to be successful in the workplace. The goal is to increase the chances of participants to be able to identify and sustain meaningful employment. This is accomplished by providing intensive coaching and mentoring, as well as aligning the efforts among service providers across the city.

RESULTS

As of November 2017, the Strong Futures Program has 43 of its 61 participants employed in a full-time capacity, and an additional 14 of its 61 participants are currently employed either part-time or are in job training paid internships. Overall employment rate is currently at 93%! The program currently has two members who went on to enroll in college full-time as well. The Strong Futures team has also assisted several individuals with securing permanent housing in the community.

Giving Back To The Community

Not only does The Will Group serve its employees, but also the Chicago community. Our company does toy giveaways during Christmastime, volunteers locally, and donates to foundations and organizations in the community. Steve Davis, Chairman of The Will Group, founded The Tuskegee NEXT Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that provides programs to immerse young urban at-risk men and women in an intensive eight-week aviation class. Whether or not they continue their careers in aviation does not matter to Steve – what matters is that the students learn about themselves and all the possibilities that are waiting for them in the world.