Ms.Burson came to OAI unemployed with barriers in transportation and personal challenges that she battled consistently. Her car was in the repair shop, but she could not afford the repair fee to get it back. Upon enrolling in the OAI JTED program, she completed the Foundational Skills Workshop, which prepared her with the soft skills needed for an entry-level healthcare job. OAI's Systems Navigator met with her 1-on-1 to address all her barriers and concerns and developed an Individual Service plan. OAI utilized JTED Barrier Reduction Funding to assist Ms. Burson with vehicle repairs and Lyft rides while the car was in the shop. Upon completing the 120-hour training at Excelsior Healthcare Academy, she passed her state exam to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. Ms. Burson was invited to the " Northwestern Medicine Career Pathways & Pizza" event at the OAI Chicago Southland Office. Soon, she landed an interview and a job shadowing practice, and the recruitment manager liked her CNA and communication skills and offered her a job on the spot. Ms. Burson started as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Northwestern Hospital on November 1, 2023, at $20.76/Hour. She also plans to utilize the $10,000 Tuition Reimbursement Program at Northwestern Medicine to enter advanced on-the-job training in Nursing.

Barrett Morrissette participates in the OAI's Electro-Mechanical Technician program funded by a Job Training and Economic Development Program (JTED) grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. In July 2023, Barrett saw a posting on Indeed describing OAI's Electro-Mechanical Technician training program. He was immediately drawn in as he was always interested in robotics and learning how machines function. However, Barrett tried several different resources, courses, and curriculums, but none taught in a way that made him stick to it. When trying to recover from his previous layoff as a sales development rep, he decided to try one last time with OAI. Once accepted into the program, Barrett completed the Foundational Skills Workshop that prepared him for the soft skills needed in the manufacturing sector and met with OAI's Program Coordinator 1-on-1 to create an Individual Service Plan that outlined all the transportation support, career coaching, and stipends needed to complete the training. During the program's 2-month span, he learned mechanical and electrical skills and earned the PMMI certification. He applied those skills to emergency repairs and working with electrical, appliances, and HVAC during an interview at Sam's Club. Barrett is now a Maintenance Technician at Sam's Club, earning $36.15 per hour. Barret stated in one of his messages to OAI: ‘I have achieved what I wouldn't have thought possible when I started. I met my wonderful classmates and friends I will never forget. I am a maintenance technician with an above-market pay rate now. I am so grateful for this opportunity to thrive in this career path.'

Bobby came to The Workforce Connection after being laid off from Chrysler in March 2023. He qualified to receive training due to being a previous auto industry worker. Although Bobby had a choice to retire, he still wanted to work, and at the time of his appointment with his Career Planner, he was unsure what he wanted to do for training or future employment. Bobby had been working at Chrysler for 27 years. Bobby spoke to his Career Planner about different options, and after some consideration, he decided to attend truck driver training. Bobby completed his training and obtained a Commercial Drivers License (CDL), which he now has ready for his new career in truck driving.

Congratulations Bobby! We are happy to be able to work with you on your decision to make truck driving your new career. We wish you the absolute best with your future employment!

Community partners traveled to West Michigan to identify best practices for apprenticeship expansion and local collaboration. Employers and community organizations discussed DEIA strategies; the community college shared public-private partnerships involvement in economic development and a trusted training provider; and the local workforce board provided insight into industry councils and apprenticeship expansion. Illinois partners included representatives from the local workforce board, local government, community college, and other stakeholders.

After learning about local apprenticeship expansion efforts, Kraft Heinz identified the Champaign facility as a pilot location for Kraft Heinz's registered apprenticeship for industrial maintenance technicians. The program, sponsored by Parkland College and Kraft Heinz, will be nationally registered by Jobs for the Future after the pilot phase. Extensive discussions and reviews with local and corporate teams have culminated in accepting the work process schedule and training instruction. The goal is to have students enrolled by the Spring semester of 2024, with the latest target being the Fall semester of the same year.

Amelia Altom is a Student Intern at School Safety Peoria High School! Under the mentorship of Officer Matthew Shirley, Amelia has gained skills in detecting potential conflicts during lunchtime observations. Officer Shirley said she is an outstanding student worker and has recommended her for an internship at Illinois Central College Security when she attends school in the fall. With the completion of Stop the Bleed training and her role in ensuring safety at evening school events, Amelia is an excellent example of the effectiveness of the internship program in providing practical, hands-on training for students. She is a prime example of how such experiences prepare individuals like her for future career pathways.

Kierra Hodges started as a student at the Hope Center Foundation in our Job Training and Economic Development program. When she entered the program, Kierra felt far from where she wanted to be in her career. She was still discovering the career pathway she wanted to explore. As a young woman with passions in dance, leadership, and caring for others, Kierra wanted to explore a path to get her closer to her lifelong dream of becoming a traveling nurse. The Hope Center Foundation invested in her career goals by placing her in a training program at the Chicago Instruction Center For Career Development in the Roseland community. After going through an 8-week intensive class, Kierra completed the training program and passed the National Phlebotomy Association exam -- officially receiving her state recognition as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician. Despite self-doubt, Kierra took leaps of faith to pursue her dreams and work passionately to get closer to her desired future. She applied to Chicago State University to begin her studies and make steps towards getting her nursing degree. After being accepted in August 2023, Kierra started her first day of college in September 2023 with a Global Diversity course. While embarking on a new journey as a college student, Kierra began her work-study as a Physical Therapist Assistant for the Chicago State University athletic department. The Hope Center Foundation was able to compensate Kierra for entering the healthcare field and compensate her for her work-based learning experiences. While closing out her semester, Kierra worked with Jessica Clark, the JTED Program Administrator, to work on her resume, apply for alternative job opportunities that would pull on her phlebotomy experience, and prepare for interviews. Moving into the second semester of her first year, Kierra accepted a full-time phlebotomist position at CSL Plasma that will allow her to pursue her nursing degree and progress in her career. It's been amazing to see her grow throughout her time at the Hope Center Foundation. Not only has her self-doubt decreased, but through her leadership roles in her extracurricular activities at her college, I've seen her organization, communication, and reliability skills grow.

Darmeze Fenderson is an Out-of-School youth who completed the 160 Driving Academy to gain his commercial driver's license (CDL) and is now employed with the St. Clair County Highway Department. Darmeze’s Career Specialist felt it was only suitable to allow Darmeze to tell his story through his lenses.

“I signed up for 160 Driving Academy and was looking forward to how things would go. The first week, I took a class portion of the academy and studied daily for the computer test. I passed on my first round and was very proud of myself; I knew it could only improve from that point. For another three weeks, I trained in the yard, and I have to say, the yard was a challenge! I started lost and worried, hoping that I could learn to drive 18-wheelers and beat what I felt was a challenge. As every week went by, I only got better and better, but by the time testing came, I had failed the road test. I felt defeated because something I trained so hard for, I couldn’t even pass. Luckily, that wasn’t my last chance. I trained again for another week and tested again. By the end of that week, I passed my CDL Class A Drivers Test. I was so proud of myself for overcoming the odds when I didn’t have a big support system. All of that alone makes me feel unstoppable. If I can do this on my own, I can do anything, I felt. After I got my CDL, I got a great job thanks to the help of my wonderful career specialist, Sandy, who had been with me the whole way, and I could keep thanking her more than I already had. Now I’m on the road to success, LITERALLY.”

Xueyun Rachel Liang began her journey in the restaurant industry by working as a waitress in a Chinese restaurant. She has worked as a waitress for many years, gaining foundational restaurant industry experience. Although she has been a great employee, she has always aspired to have her own restaurant business one day. Rachel discovered the Chinese Restaurant Upskill Job Training Program and was eager to join because she wanted to learn more about the restaurant industry. This would help her build more skills that would be practical for her as a restaurant owner. Rachel mentioned that through the program, she has learned many topics that she has been unable to know through her everyday life. For instance, she now has better knowledge of restaurant management, food safety, nutrition, and obtaining additional culinary skills. After completing the training program, Rachel successfully met her goal. She opened her restaurant with great confidence and looks forward to continuing to use all the skills and knowledge she has acquired.

Hersey student Riya works with actual patients through her apprenticeship with Northwest Community Hospital. Learn more about our apprenticeship program here.

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Meet Rolling Meadows High School senior Alexis Mennis. She works as a Certified Nursing Assistant apprentice at the Greek American Rehabilitation & Care Centre during the day. She takes classes at school and Harper College and has track & field practice after school. See how she does it all!

"Going through our career pathways program, I've been able to get a jump-start on my career. I got hands-on experience with patients, showing me I could do this for the rest of my life. I want to be a surgeon. It made me confident about the path I want to take."

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Agri-Fab has a DX200 Controller Arc welder that is imperative to daily operations. Unfortunately, only one employee has the skills to operate it. In looking into the future and the upcoming retirement of this individual, they recognized the urgent need to secure the future of their operations, and the leadership at Agri-Fab initiated a proactive plan. A comprehensive training program was set in motion to equip a new generation of employees with the intricate skills required to operate the DX200 Controller Arc welder. Without employees knowledgeable in the equipment operation, this process would have to be outsourced, costing the company unnecessary expenses. As the sun rose on a new era for Agri-Fab, it did so with the assurance that the DX200 Controller Arc welder, once tied to a single pair of expert hands, now rested in the capable grip of a team. The foresight of the company's leadership had secured its presence and positioned it as a leader in the industry, ready to face the challenges of tomorrow.

Change was in the air in the bustling halls of Peerless of America, a company deeply entrenched in the heat exchanger and extruded aluminum tube industries. The top management, mindful of the impending retirements of key leaders, recognized the need for a strategic shift in focus. It was time to cultivate a new generation of leaders who would guide the company into a prosperous future.

Enter the Lean Leadership training, a transformative initiative rippled through the organization like a breath of fresh air. The management team, fully onboard with the impending cultural shift, embarked on a journey that would redefine the very fabric of Peerless. As they delved into Lean Concepts, the gears of change were set in motion, aiming to slash downtime, eliminate waste, and orchestrate a symphony of efficiency.

This commitment to Lean Concepts wasn't just an internal overhaul but a key to unlocking the company's potential in the competitive market. Peerless and employees were becoming a beacon of marketability and competitiveness. The metamorphosis was palpable, resonating within the company's walls and across the broader landscape of the air conditioning, refrigeration, and automotive sectors.

As the training continued, a sense of anticipation filled the corridors. The company's metamorphosis was not only about surviving but thriving. Peerless of America was gearing up to be a force to be reckoned with, standing at the forefront of innovation and efficiency in the ever-evolving industries they served. The ripple effect of this transformative journey extended beyond the balance sheets. Peerless became a beacon for other companies aspiring to adapt, grow, and lead in their respective domains. The story of Peerless of America wasn't just about heat exchangers and aluminum tubes; it was a tale of resilience, adaptability, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence. The stage was set, the training continued, and the future held the promise of a Peerless tomorrow.

Shaina’s favorite part of working as an agent in The Lighthouse’s Low Vision Call Center was learning about patients' eye conditions. She started to think about having a full-time position in the medical field, but she wasn’t sure where to start.
Fortunately for Shaina, The Lighthouse, in August 2022, launched a partnership with Moraine Valley Community College to help people with disabilities – Shaina has a visual impairment – learn to become Certified Medical Administrative Assistants. When she heard about the program, Shaina enrolled immediately. “I wanted to find a way back into the medical field, and this one was perfect,” Shaina says. 
Using ZoomText, Shaina worked through the self-directed course of modules covering scheduling, privacy, and insurance coding at a pace much faster than the prescribed 16 weeks. “It was very thought-provoking,” she says. “Some of it was familiar, but a lot was new.”
Shaina’s vision has begun to fade further, and she is now learning to use a JAWS screen reader before taking the National Certification Exam.
Shaina was hired in February 2023 as a medical scheduler at the UI health call center.