Members of UNITEHERE! Chicago Hospitality Institute (UHCHI) recently visited Mercy Home to learn about our mission and explore various ways the two organizations could collaborate to help our kids. UHCHI offers an apprenticeship program that trains candidates for careers in world-class kitchens across Chicago’s hospitality industry.

As the apprenticeship program for UNITEHERE! Local 1, the UHCHI program provides participants with culinary training for in-demand careers in hotels, banquet halls, restaurants, and sports centers around Chicago. UHCHI prepares participants in the program for a career as a Chef de Partie and supports them as they take their first steps on this great career path.

After touring Mercy Home, Lisa and Jim from UHCHI met with members of Mercy Home’s Education and Career Resources team. It was an informative and interesting discussion, and all those in attendance walked away from it excited about the potential opportunities for our youth.

“I feel this partnership will lead to opportunities for many of our kids who have an interest in pursuing a career in the culinary arts,” said Tom Gilardi, who helped organize the visit for Mercy Home. “We are deeply grateful to Sheila Gainer for making the connection for us.” Gainer is a long-time friend of the Home.

UNITE HERE Local 1 represents more than 15,000 hospitality workers in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Local 1 is an affiliate of UNITE HERE, which represents approximately 300,000 hotel, food service, and gaming workers throughout the United States and Canada.