DePaul University’s Office of Applied Innovations (OAI) once again is issuing a call for Latino applicants for its Chicago hotel training program funded by the Illinois Department of Public Aid. These trainees also must be receiving support from Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) to qualify for the program.

OAI currently has more than 100 unfulled jobs.

AFDC has given OAI a $360,000 grant to train AFDC recipients for jobs in the hotel industry. Half of that money is earmarked for Latino recipients and those OAI classes still have vacancies. OAI has trained hotel workers for 12 years, but this is the first time that classes for Spanish speakers have been included.

OAI trainees who complete the two-week training program are placed in jobs in Chicago’s five-star hotels. The current hourly union wage for housekeepers is $7.43 and most positions include benefits, such as health insurance, vacation leave, tuition reimbursement and with meals and uniform provided. OAI follows each worker for a one-year period to make certain they are performing well.

OAI has experienced success in placing its trainees in hotel jobs.

"The hotels have told us that they will take as many workers as we can turn out," said Kathleen Riordan, director of OAI’s hotel training program.

The OAI Hotel/Hospital Occupational Skills Training for Latinos (HOST) trains potential workers in bed making, room cleaning and basic English skills. Trainees also learn how hospitals and hotels operate as businesses.

In addition, workers attend motivational seminars where they focus on self-esteem and learn to set long-term goals. There are also classes on time management, financial planning and job retention skills.

Under the umbrella of DePaul's Office of Continuing and Professional Education in the Division of Lifelong Learning and Suburban Campuses, OAI has a placement rate of 90 percent for trainees, who have completed the program. OAI has placed several thousand people in jobs in the Chicago area. It is completely funded by grants.

The Office of Applied Innovations joined DePaul last summer, after being affiliated with Northern Illinois University for four years, and with the Northwest Educational Cooperative initially. For more information on the program call Riordan at 312/362-6040 or Tippawan T.Q. Reed, OAI executive director, at 312/362-6022. Applicants for the program should call trainers, Marilu Galan or Martha Mendiola, at 312/362-6020, for an appointment.