Barack Obama has urged top architecture studios and tech firms like Amazon, Google and Microsoft to take on paid apprentices from Chicago's South Side at a public consultation event for the Obama Presidential Library.
The former US president spoke to the audience and answered questions through a video live-stream at the event, which took place last night at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place hotel in downtown Chicago.
He said the Obama Presidential Library, which is being built in the South Side area of the city, should be used to open up opportunities for young people considering careers in the architecture, technology and construction sectors. He called on the city's top firms to host workshops at the library and offer paid apprenticeships. "What we want to do is start partnering with all the companies downtown and saying to them why don't you partner, we've got some young people in the South Side who are interested in being architects," said Obama, responding to a question from the audience regarding paid opportunities at the library.
"Let's go to the top architectural firms downtown and say: 'You come down here and do a workshop, identify young people of talent, you give them a paid apprenticeship'."
He said the industries are lacking diversity and hoped the construction of the library would create routes for those living in the predominantly Black and Hispanic neighbourhood to enter careers in the architecture, technology and construction indust...