Blackhawks, Pepsi Introduce Youth to Careers Through GameChangers Program

Career-minded young people from Chicago’s West Side examined the inner workings of jobs at PepsiCo’s McKinley Park neighborhood distribution facility and at the food giant’s Old Post Office headquarters through a new initiative from the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation.

The GameChangers program provides hands-on experience for students interested in pursuing careers in local industries, such as the logistics, sales and warehousing work of the PepsiCo facility at 1400 W. 35th St., Chicago. PepsiCo is the presenting corporate sponsor for the program.

A visiting student checks out a PepsiCo delivery truck at the April 1, 2024, tour of the 35th Street distribution center.“GameChangers was inspired by students’ interests in launching and growing their careers in this city we all love,” said Sara Guderyahn, executive director of the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation.

Opportunities and Pathways

PepsiCo hosted students from ASPIRA Business & Finance High School and Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet School on April 1, 2024, showcasing operations and employment opportunities at the distribution center, as well as lucrative and fulfilling careers that can grow from entry-level jobs.

“We are working to create exposure opportunities and tangible pathways to the many career opportunities spanning our dynamic sports and entertainment industries," Guderyahn said.

United Center Connection

PepsiCo Unit General Manager Tiffany Wooten talks about careers at the tour of the 35th Street distribution center on April 1, 2024.The GameChangers partnership originated through PepsiCo’s role as the exclusive soft drink provider for the United Center. As previously reported here in the McKinley Park News, keeping fountain drinks stocked for thirsty Blackhawks and other fans is one of the biggest jobs handled by PepsiCo’s 35th Street distribution center.

GameChangers also ties into PepsiCo’s Pathways to Readiness and Empowerment Program (PREP), which enables access to career and employment resources for at least 3,000 young people from Chicago’s South and West sides.

Professional Development Opportunities

“Partnering with the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation for this new initiative is a natural extension of the work we’ve already been doing with local community leaders to increase access to career resources,” said Brittany N. Wilson, PepsiCo’s community relations manager in Chicago.

“We will continue to show up for local students and provide exciting, tangible career experiences with the hope that it encourages them to pursue any professional opportunities that excite them," she said.

Old Post Office HQ

Students try to guess the PepsiCo product on April 1, 2024, at PepsiCo's 35th Street distribution center.The GameChangers program also brought students from Richard T. Crane Medical Prep High School and Michele Clark school to PepsiCo's workspace at the Old Post Office for a tour on April 10, 2024. There, they took headshots, connected with human resources, participated in mock interviews and examined the laboratory makeup of Pepsi products.

“The station I found the most valuable was the mock interview and resumes station,” said Raymarreon Polk, Crane Medical High School senior. “I feel the feedback gave me more encouraging words I should say and showed me how to better present myself during an interview."