Kennedy-King College, Peoples Gas, and City Colleges of Chicago Mark 15 Years of Partnership and Veteran Support, Hold Summit and Ceremonial Agreement Signing

CHICAGO — Building on 15 years of support for Chicago-area military veterans, local labor organizations, the Utility Workers Local 18007, Peoples Gas, and City Colleges of Chicago will host the Utility Workers Military Assistance Program 2026 Summit on Wednesday, September 9, at the Dawson Technical Institute of Kennedy-King College in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood.

UMAP, launched in 2012, is a public-private partnership designed to serve as a feeder program for military veterans, providing training to support full-time employment with Peoples Gas, Chicago’s provider of natural gas to nearly 900,000 residential, commercial, and civic customers.

Nick Passarelli, UWUA Local 18007 President, said, “My father, Rick Passarelli, is a Navy Veteran, a retired Local 18007 Business Manager, and the founder of the UMAP Program. UWUA Local 18007 is proud to lead Peoples Gas in this program. Fifteen years later, we have changed the lives of many who have honorably worn the uniform.”

“Our mission with Peoples Gas has been to create clear, impactful pathways to success, and uplifting those who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said President Katonja Webb Walker, Kennedy-King College. “Our veterans represent the very best of us, and through the UMAP program, we are honored to provide them with the training they deserve to secure meaningful, life-changing careers in the utility sector. I’m thankful for this partnership, Nick’s leadership, and for everyone on my team who ensures our students meet their goals.”

“Fifteen years in, 38 cohorts later and counting, we know for a fact this program changes lives. What started as a small training program to put veterans to work in Chicago has now transformed into a national model we are replicating with partners across the country,” said Utility Workers Union of America President James Slevin. “Recruiting and training veterans into good-paying union jobs to maintain and update Chicago’s gas infrastructure is a win-win-win for everyone involved.”

UMAP tuition is funded in part by Illinois Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIO) through the Chicago Federation of Labor Workforce and Community Initiative. UMAP is a six-month program that combines classroom learning with hands-on internships for active-duty service members and veterans. The instruction—focused on constructing and operating natural gas distribution systems—earns participants 52 college credit hours, just eight credits shy of an associate in science degree. To date, the program has helped more than 700 veterans secure careers in the utility sector.

The Summit is a daylong event showcasing a variety of veterans’ programs, networking, tours, and insights into careers in the utility industry.

“Peoples Gas is committed to training and hiring local Chicagoans from the communities we serve. Veterans who come to us through UMAP play a crucial role in our work providing safe and reliable energy service to every city neighborhood,” said Maria Bocanegra, president, Peoples Gas. “Our partnership with Local 18007 and City Colleges of Chicago is a national model for creating good careers for veterans, and it’s positively impacted hundreds of lives over the past 15 years.”

During the event, the Union, City Colleges and People Gas will sign a ceremonial agreement to further memorialize the program.

If you are a veteran and interested in the UMAP program, click here to apply, more.

For more information about City Colleges, visit www.ccc.edu or click here; or call 773-COLLEGE (773-265-5343). City Colleges of Chicago is enrolling now for 12 and 8-week classes that begin September 21 and October 19, respectively.

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About City Colleges of Chicago

As the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity, City Colleges of Chicago catalyzes our students’ capacity to prosper and take part in building a stronger and more just Chicago. For more information visit www.ccc.edu or click here; or call 773-COLLEGE (773-265-5343).

Media contacts:

Elizabeth Murray-Belcaster, EMB Consultants, Inc., (e) embconsultants@gmail.com

Veronica Resa, City Colleges of Chicago, (e) vresa1@ccc.edu