Workforce

Kicking off our brand-new Partner Link-Up Blog Series is Michelle Schott, the Integrated Education and Training Coordinator at our partner agency: Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). We spoke with Michelle to learn more about how our partnership supports the…

This June, we purchased the building at 1700 W. 18th Street in Chicago’s iconic Pilsen neighborhood. If you’ve ever walked through our doors, you know this isn’t just any building — it’s where job seekers find hope. It’s been our…

I was incredibly fortunate to have an impactful start to my week spending time with our amazing board Chair Angel Torres meeting with federal lawmakers to educate and advocate for the reauthorization of critical workforce legislation. Ensuring American businesses and…

Leadership Lessons & Advice: The most valuable leadership lesson I’ve learned is that there is a difference between a leader and a boss.  I never want to be a boss, I flourish and my teams flourish when I remember who…

As the spring season kicks off, and we see the budding of trees and flowers all around us, it is also the perfect time to reflect on your career growth and goals. During this season, take a fresh look at…

Jessie Castaneda was born in Chicago, and raised in the city during the 1960s and 1970s. After dropping out of high school, Jessie enlisted in the U.S. Army where he found structure and drive. It was in the Army that…

“Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.” Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.*  Every day thousands of individuals make the difficult and…

George Drain worked at a metal engineering organization for 32 years. He was an absolute expert in shaping and forming metal! Unfortunately, the organization went out of business in early 2023 and George found himself unemployed. The very first thing…

A Veterans Career Path: From In-Person Warrior to Cyber Warrior  Mark Hopkins spent 30 years in the U.S. Army where he had about nine different roles from commander to inspector general and many in between. Mark’s very last assignment was…

The period between Halloween and the December holidays is usually when shoppers are out in force and retail businesses bulk up their staffing to meet the rush. This year is no different in those regards, but with one key change…

Q: Why is important to celebrate and highlight the workforce development industry?  A. It’s important that we showcase the careers in our communities! Monthly and weekly celebrations like National Apprenticeship week, and especially Workforce Development Month which just occurred in…

Kym Simmons worked in the banking industry for most of her career, however her dreams and aspirations changed in March 2023. It was during this time that Kym decided to pursue a career outside of the corporate world, so she…