Mayor Recognizes Four Evanston Community Members with Key to the City

The following is from the City of Evanston:

Four Evanston community members were awarded the “Key to the City” by Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl for their contributions benefitting Evanston youth and workforce development in the city.

Recognized at the September 8 Evanston City Council Meeting were Lou Dickson, executive director of the Evanston ReBuilding Warehouse; Ann Jennett, founder of the Youth Job Center of Evanston; Hecky Powell, owner of Hecky’s Barbecue; and Susan Trieschmann, executive director of Curt’s Café.

Lou Dickson supports workforce development through her work at the Evanston ReBuilding Warehouse, a nonprofit organization that promotes waste reduction in landfills through sustainable deconstruction and renovation building practices, while also offering valuable workforce training in construction, deconstruction and warehousing.

Ann Jennett has made it her mission to help young people enter the workforce. The Youth Job Center of Evanston, founded by Ann in 1983, provides employment-related services for disadvantaged and at-risk youth in Evanston and Chicago. It has helped more than 20,000 young people find jobs over the last 30 years.

Hecky Powell has served Evanston residents pulled pork, baby back ribs, sweet potato pie and more at Hecky’s Barbecue for more than 30 years, but he’s also provided dozens of Evanston youth with employment and career development through work at his restaurant. In addition, through the Forrest E. Powell Foundation, created by Hecky in honor of his father, hard-working individuals are given scholarships to pursue their dreams.

Susan Trieschmann, a food-service professional since the age of 13, makes sure that Curt’s Café patrons are not only provided with delicious food made from scratch and a comfortable place to enjoy it; but that at-risk Evanston youth are given training in food service and in life through their work at the cafe. Students at Curt’s learn valuable, employable skills, and are given job placement assistance after completing their training.

See photos from the City Council Meeting >>>