Lawmakers Lightford, Sims, Aquino, Hernandez, Ervin, Dowell, Taylor & Fuentes with Youth Leaders Featured at ASN Legislative Forum
WHAT: A new report released by the UIC Great Cities Institute on out-of-school and jobless youth highlights how for nearly 80 years, youth unemployment in the United States has remained at levels that would trigger a federal emergency response if experienced by prime-age workers — yet no sustained response has followed.
The report commissioned by the Alternative Schools Network will be released Wed. Feb. 11, finds that teenage unemployment and youth joblessness exceeded 10 percent in 74 of the last 78 years, while the same threshold was crossed only once for prime-age workers. The analysis concludes youth unemployment and joblessness is not cyclical, temporary or self-correcting — it is a long-standing policy failure. Chicago, Cook County and Illinois illustrate how that national failure plays out locally, ranking among the worst in the country for youth joblessness and disconnection from work and school, particularly for Black youth.
Findings will be released at a panel discussion with legislators at The Union League Club of Chicago hosted by ASN.
WHO: Speakers will include:
- Illinois State General Assembly Members:
- Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-4th), Senate majority leader
- Sen. Elgie Sims Jr. (D-17th)
- Sen. Omar Aquino (D-2nd)
- Rep. Norma Hernandez (D-77th)
- Chicago City Council Members:
- Ald. Jason Ervin (28th)
- Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd)
- Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th)
- Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th)
WHEN: 9:30 a.m – Noon, Wed., Feb. 11, 2026
WHERE: The Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
WHY THIS YEAR MATTERS: $80 Million Legislative Request
The findings are being released as Illinois lawmakers consider a proposal to invest $80 million in year-round youth employment programs.
ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS NETWORK
The Alternative Schools Network is a not-for-profit organization in Chicago working to provide quality education with a specific emphasis on inner-city children, youth and adults. Since 1973, ASN has been supporting community based and community-run programs to develop and expand training and other educational services in Chicago’s inner-city neighborhoods. In addition to supporting direct services, For more information please visit www.asnchicago.org.
ABOUT THE UIC GREAT CITIES INSTITUTE
The UIC Great Cities Institute works to link academic resources with a range of partners to address urban issues by providing research, policy analysis and program development. Tied to the University of Illinois at Chicago Great Cities Institute Commitment, GCI seeks to improve quality of life in Chicago, its metropolitan region and cities throughout the world. For more information go to www.greatcities.uic.edu.
CONTACT:
LAURIE R. GLENN
773.704.7246
lrglenn@thinkincstrategy.com
/PRNewswire — Feb. 10, 2026/
SOURCE Alternative Schools Network
