O’Reilly Hospitality Management (OHM) is extremely excited about partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield (BGCS) to launch the Reach Workforce Readiness program at the O’Reilly Unit located at Williams Elementary School. With the Reach Program, BGCS seeks to develop a comprehensive program that addresses and responds to limited access to workforce development opportunities among under-represented and under-resourced communities for both youth and adults.
At OHM, we feel strongly that the Club members and their parents are a significant untapped resource for our Springfield workforce that is in such desperate need of additional workers and employees. Many of the kids and families in the Tom Watkins neighborhood, where Williams Elementary is located, are folks that have just had unfortunate life situations caused by factors that are not always within their control such as unemployment; health and medical issues; and mental health challenges.
We believe that unless poverty is addressed through a whole-family approach, providing adults and their children with access to workforce development opportunities, the cycle will continue.
Many of the kids just need inspiration and someone to believe in them to get on a bright and right path to the future. Many families just need hope and support in order to turn things around. We believe that partnering with BGCS to provide workforce readiness programs will bring this much needed hope.
With the Reach program, we will be able to pair the need for workers with people who need to work. OHM’s northside business facilities such as Houlihan’s Restaurant, Big Shots Golf, Doubletree Hotel & Glendalough Conference Center, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Holiday Inn Express, the Barley House and Macadoodles North Springfield all have great job opportunities available that require mostly just hard work and determination.
This comes from getting a second chance. In addition, we have many entry level jobs that do not require significant experience or deep formal education in order to start on the path that can produce a rewarding career and good compensation and benefits. I believe with the Reach program, we can bring the business community together to offer job opportunities for Club families.
I invite the business community in Springfield to join us to support the Reach program. Together, our business community can invest in Great Futures. It’s a win-win-win for employers, our families, and Springfield.
Tim O’Reilly is the chief executive officer of O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC.