New Libertyville job center offers a 'Fresh Start'

With some economic indicators trending positive in recent months, many believe the nation is technically out of the recession.

But with recent unemployment figures rising above 10 percent, the recession - and the need for help finding work - is a present reality for hundreds of area residents.

A group of volunteers, lead by Green Oaks resident Audrey Lewis, has come together to form a nonprofit job center, hoping to help.

Fresh Start of Illinois opened in Libertyville last week. The employment center provides resume-writing workshops, classes on debt reduction and budgeting, free Internet access and interview workshops, among other things.

"One of the biggest values of Fresh Start is to provide an office environment where people can focus on their careers," said one of the founding organizers, David Cook, of Green Oaks.

Fresh Start opened in vacant storefront at 1512 Artaius Parkway in Libertyville.

"I would pass by all those empty places and think there could be something useful to do with them," Lewis said. "I thought, wouldn't it be great to have a kind of one-stop-shopping place for job hunters. So I got to work on that."

Lewis recently retired as the executive director of a nonprofit organization that supports research for persons with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The work involved fundraising and volunteer recruiting, skills that are serving Lewis well as she gets Fresh Start off the ground.

The office has a 40-person training room, conference room, a bank of computers for online job hunting and plenty of hot coffee. Cook said not only has every item in the office has been donated, but the staff of nearly 15 people works for free to help the jobless. The office space is also being provided at no cost.

Word about the job center is starting to filter out and organizers said they expect 40 to 50 people to take advantage of their services each week. Local mayors Terry Weppler of Libertyville, Bernard Wysocki of Green Oaks and Vernon Hills Village Manager Mike Allison are supportive of the effort and serve as honorary board members.

"With unemployment as high as it is, it's great to see community members helping out other community members," Weppler said. "We have a great volunteer base in this community. People see there is a need and are doing something about it."

Fresh Start is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but Cook hopes to add a third day soon. He says the best way to make contact is through their Web site, freshstartofillinois.org, or by calling (847) 521-3910.

Beyond the practical help the center offers, Cook sees an equally important function.

"This is a place for people to get out of the house and back into an office environment. That is extremely helpful," he said. "It's a place where people can talk and connect with others in similar circumstances."