AUSTIN — A once-shuttered public school on Chicago’s West Side is reopening with a new purpose this Juneteenth, as the long-awaited Aspire Center officially launches in the former Emmet Elementary building — offering job training, financial literacy, and holistic workforce services for Austin residents.
The transformation is being celebrated as a powerful example of community-led reinvestment in a neighborhood long underserved by citywide economic efforts.
From Closed School to Community Powerhouse
The Emmet Elementary building, closed by CPS in 2013, is now the home of the Aspire Center — a hub for employment training, economic mobility, and neighborhood revitalization. According to organizers, the center was intentionally designed “by the community, for the community.”
Leading up to Thursday’s opening, local groups — including Austin Coming Together, Westside Health Authority, BMO Bank, and Jane Addams Resource Corp. — collaborated to launch the Mobilize Project, a $3 million effort to establish a sustainable and service-rich model for the site.
Wraparound Services Under One Roof
The Aspire Center stands out for offering integrated services in a single location. Residents can walk in and receive help with:
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Job readiness and workforce development
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Financial coaching and banking services
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Legal and housing assistance
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Mental health support and family services
“Whether someone is opening a bank account, enrolling in a training course, or meeting with a support worker — they’ll find it all here,” said the organizers.
A Model Built on Trust and Local Leadership
Leaders say the Aspire Center was only made possible through deep collaboration. Partner organizations moved into shared space, aligned their operations, and prioritized trust-building — rejecting the traditional top-down approach in favor of community ownership.
Located at Madison and Central, one of the West Side’s main commercial corridors, the center is also tied to a larger plan to increase local homeownership, wealth building, and economic stability.
A Message to the Community: “You Matter”
Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together, emphasized that the Aspire Center sends a message to longtime residents: “We haven’t given up.”
“We want our youth to know their future matters, and our elders to know their sacrifices weren’t in vain,” said Shields. “This center proves we don’t need to wait for outside solutions — we can build something better ourselves.”
Have you visited the new Aspire Center yet? What resources or training would be most helpful for your neighborhood? Share your thoughts and ideas with us at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
