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This year marks the five-year anniversary of the enactment of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, popularly known as WIOA. WIOA has helped hundreds of thousands of Americans find stable, fulfilling, and long-term employment, and has helped employers find passionate,…

Patricia “Patty” Miranda de Rodriguez, originally from Panama, attended college in 2003 to pursue a career in Interior Design. Unfortunately, upon graduation, the real estate crisis had severely limited the field, so she pursued a job at a law firm….

Cornelious Brookens, an energetic 58-year-old and father of four, worked in the retail industry for more than 30 years. As he moved through the industry, he found a company he liked, and stayed with them for 15 years. He was…

Jeremiah Harris’ life is anything but traditional, but he has strong roots and even stronger ambitions in the city that he loves: Chicago.  Born and raised in Chicago, dad of three, Jeremiah finished college at the age of 27 in…

If we had to use one word to describe Donna Coachman, it would be fearless. No amount of personal or professional hurdles could prevent Donna from achieving her goals, and today, her life is proof that being fearless has paved…

From the time she was five or six years old, Chicago native D’Loren “Ren” Miller was always interested in computers. After looking for work in her adult life rather unsuccessfully, Ren participated in a career assessment to determine which industry…

For more than a decade, Eduardo Castaneda had a goal of earning certifications that would allow him to pursue a career in information technology. Like many people, though, Eduardo found it challenging and unaffordable to work and go to school…

Dale Greenwell, a U.S. Air Force veteran, had an extensive career as an engineer. Most recently, he was the Principle Test Engineer at WMS Gaming, where he worked for 11 years until there were a series of layoffs that left…

Daniel Ashinoff has always been computer-oriented. His family owned and operated a computer repair shop, which allowed him to gain technical skills and computer knowledge. However, as Daniel decided to branch out and seek other employment opportunities, he hit a…

Yacoub Samad worked as a taxi driver for nearly fifteen years. Within the last few years, competition from rideshare apps drastically reduced his income, which led Yacoub to decide that it was time for a career change. Before Yacoub began…