On March 27, Mayor Emanuel announced a city-wide strategy to triple the number of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) degrees and credentials earned by Chicago youth within four years.

Jobs in STEM fields are among the fastest growing and highest paying. By 2018, one out of five jobs in Cook County is expected to be in a STEM field, with the majority of STEM jobs requiring a bachelor's degree. However, few Chicagoans - in particular few youth - are prepared for these jobs: just 5 percent of the students who enter high school every year at CPS go on to earn a degree or credential in a STEM field.

Over the past four months, Civic Consulting staff and pro bono partners from Bain & Company and McKinsey & Company have been working with the Mayor's Office, Chicago Public Schools (CPS), City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), local universities, businesses and non-profits to develop this strategy.  Through our joint efforts, the team has identified 11 priority areas for investment, such as STEM career and academic readiness and teacher capacity to deliver STEM curricula.

"By increasing access to a high-quality STEM education, we are providing our children with the tools they need to get a solid footing on the economic ladder, innovate new technology, and make new scientific breakthroughs that will define the future of our City," Mayor Emanuel said.

"Now, we have a vision and a goal that all sectors can jointly focus on and be better able to help our students achieve STEM degrees and prepare them for the jobs of the future," said Beth Swanson, deputy for education to Mayor Rahm Emanuel. 

NBCChicago: City Aims to Triple Number of Students with STEM Education 

City of Chicago: Mayor Emanuel Announces City-Wide Strategy to Increase Access to a High-Quality, Cradle-to-Career Stem Education Pipeline for Students

For more information, please contact Kelsey Burr.

A new citywide partnership, Thrive Chicago, aims to help Chicagoans succeed in education, career, and life.  Thrive is achieving these goals by:

• Setting common outcomes and milestones
• Forming groups of providers ("change networks") to work collectively toward a specific outcome
• Providing change networks working on outcomes the data needed to be successful and measure impact

To date, more than 200 organizations have been involved in Thrive.  These organizations helped determine the target outcomes and joined Change Networks to develop and implement an action plan to achieve a specific target outcome.

Civic Consulting Alliance and its partners have been working with the Mayor's office to develop the data infrastructure and launch several Change Networks, which focus on improving the following outcomes:

• Kindergarten readiness
• Engagement in enrichment and academic activities
• High school graduation
• College readiness and completion
• Employment at living wages

"Most of us agree that we can no longer afford to work in isolation and expect to see profound social gains for our city's children and youth," said Evelyn Diaz, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services. "That's why it's so exciting that we have this moment, right now, to work collaboratively with so many exceptional stakeholders toward a common vision that puts children and youth first."

"The issues facing many of Chicago's youth, particularly those confronted with violence and poverty, are far too complex for any one organization to take on in isolation," said David Hiller of the McCormick Foundation. "Our city needs a coordinated response, involving all stakeholders who care about and invest in the lives and potential of our young people."