Jadon Small was referred to the Workforce Development Group of St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department by our partnering group, Community Services Block Grant. He was a Senior in high school and would sleep on the couch of whomever would allow him to stay a night or two. Jadon was enrolled in the WIOA Youth Program and under Paid Work Experience went to work at Soulcial Kitchen in Swansea. Through incentives, such as gas cards to help cover the cost of transportation, Jadon was able to demonstrate his work ethic and culinary skills. Despite the adversity Jadon was facing, his amazing character shined through and Soulcial Kitchen added Jadon as a full-time staff member after Jadon’s graduation in May. Jadon, who recently turned 18, is now participating through the On-the-Job Training program, in Soulcial Kitchen’s Food Truck Operator apprenticeship and operates a food truck.

John Michel of Soulcial Kitchen said, “Jadon is a blessing to have on our team which enables this business to bless others.”

Before becoming a Project Hire-Ed apprentice, I had been taking general education courses at the College of DuPage and was considering a degree in social media marketing. I changed my mind when I realized that automation in manufacturing was a secure career with a lot of opportunities. My father had always worked with his hands, and I knew that I wanted a career where I would always be needed. A career in electromechanical technology and mechatronics sounded like the right path for me. 

I came across Project Hire-Ed while taking classes in my field, and found out that I could start getting career experience right away. I applied and got matched very quickly with M&R Print, my employer. I was able to start a new job getting experience while continuing to take classes. They are also paying my tuition and fees, which is a big plus.

The classes and the faculty are great. I am taking classes in the lab, working on machines in small groups, which is a great way to learn teamwork. The instructors let us work on our own and find solutions, and they step in when we need suggestions or guidance. It’s a great way to learn how to (and how not to) do things on these machines. You really learn as you go and use the experience at work at the same time. It’s a great model.

Project Hire-Ed has been really good at communicating with me throughout my experience. They let me know what I need to be looking out for next, keeping on top of my coursework so I can graduate quickly. I am about to finish my Applied Technology certificate and am also continuing my schooling to earn a certificate in Programmable Logic Controllers as well as my associate’s degree in Electro-Mechanical Technology.

For anyone curious about this program, I highly recommend it for people wanting an early hands-on experience. Make sure to research companies before meeting them. Make sure it’s the move you want to make. No matter what, a Project Hire-Ed apprenticeship is a great experience that’s really worth it.

On May 12^th, 2022, Madison County Employment and Training (LWIA 22) and the St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department (LWIA 24) combined to host a Regional Healthcare Roundtable event at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, Illinois.

The event brought regional employers, educators, apprentices, and community-based organizations, together with the public to discuss building a talent pipeline that could support the healthcare sector. The event focused on using work-based learning strategies as a supplement to strategies already in place.  Current apprentices and employers using Registered Apprenticeships (RA’s) spoke about the value and return on investment that RA’s provide. 

The event drew over sixty participants and led to a healthy discussion on how the region can come together to recruit, train, and retain employees from diverse and underutilized talent pools.  LWIA’s 22 and 24 have hosted several other roundtable events this year including one for returning citizens (individuals with justice involvement) and one focused on supply chain and logistics. Additional sector-based roundtables are scheduled for 2022 in education, construction, manufacturing, and apprenticeships.

The roundtable events have proven to be a great way to bring partners together to discuss challenges, opportunities, and best practices.

On May 11^th and May 12^th, 2022 Rend Lake College, located in Ina, IL, and Kaskaskia College, located in Centralia, IL, partnered in hosting an In-Person Apprenticeship Open House for the Industry Consortium for Advanced Technical Training (ICATT) at their respective campuses. ICATT works in tandem with the Mount Vernon, IL Continental Tire Plant to provide Continental Tire with exceptional candidates for the apprenticeship program hosted through RLC and Kaskaskia. This relationship between ICATT, Continental Tire, and the area community colleges is mutually beneficial for all parties involved, and the event provided local residents the opportunity to learn more about the program, how it relates to the community college, and to even apply for jobs with Continental Tire on the spot.

The event featured guests from both ICATT and Continental Tire. The individual from ICATT informed attendees about the application process for both ICATT and Continental Tire while employees from Continental Tire were able to display one of their robots that is utilized on their production lines. This was an example of one of the types of machinery that students graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Industrial Electronics and Maintenance can expect to work on once they are in their field of work.

Continental Tire is a German based company who is not unfamiliar with the Apprenticeship Model. It is common practice in Germany for there to be an Apprenticeship Program built into their education system that combines hands-on training with the learning practices that come from traditional education. By embracing this model in the United States, Continental Tire and ICATT are giving individuals from our area a great employment opportunity while they continue their education. This opens the door to future opportunities that apprenticeship students will feel confident in pursuing.