Our commitment to continuous learning extends not only to the community we serve, but also to us as an organization. Each year CJC’s internal team sets a learning agenda, and in FY25 our staff will be focused on advancing anti-racist practices, enhancing cross-team collaboration, and developing leadership skills to foster inclusive and equitable systems.

The first quarter of our fiscal year also brings our annual Fall Fundraiser, which we just held last Tuesday, October 1st. This year’s theme was Brews & Ballads because we added a karaoke twist to our fundraising efforts. 

Building on the work we started last year, we’ve continued to bridge the gap between funders and community-based organizations through The Funders' Project, a six-session series focused on creating more equitable funding practices. The initiative aims to make application and reporting processes fairer and more accessible, especially for underrepresented organizations.

Our Skills Agenda meetings have begun earnestly as we look forward to rounding out the year and the new legislative year’s priorities. We are engaging in conversations focused on broader workforce development priorities for the table.

The Transit Table is evolving into a broader Fines & Fees Table in an exciting transition. Building on the success of ending driver’s license suspensions for minor traffic offenses, which disproportionately impacted people's ability to work, this new focus will expand efforts to address the broader issue of fines and fees.

In a significant victory for workers and communities across Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker signed HB277 into law, marking an important step forward in the fight against unjust penalties that disproportionately harm low-income individuals and people of color. Starting January 1, 2025, Illinois will no longer suspend driver’s licenses for failure to appear in court for minor traffic violations. This overdue change will have far-reaching positive impacts on families, businesses, and entire communities.

There is also a fundamental connection between voting and workforce development funding. The future of legislation like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Illinois’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) depends on the choices made at the ballot box. After reading this, we hope our sector will be motivated and equipped to effectively advocate for increased voter turnout, ensuring that our elected officials prioritize the needs of those who rely on essential programs.

The discussion was both dynamic and thought-provoking, focusing on critical efforts to bridge the racial wealth gap. Despite the promising programs and pilot initiatives being considered, our conversation underscored the significant work that remains, particularly in addressing the deeper systemic issues exacerbating this gap in Chicago.

In a recent Senate hearing, Dr. Lisa Bly-Jones, CEO of the Chicago Jobs Council (CJC), provided insightful testimony on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and its critical role in addressing the needs of the modern workforce. Since the hearing, she was asked to submit a response to a few questions the Senators had.

Cheryl Freeman, CJC Board Member and Dean at Olive-Harvey College (OHC) invited us to tour the state-of-the-art Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics (TDL) Center at Olive-Harvey College in Chicago. OHC is recognized as the Center of Excellence for TDL within the City Colleges network, serving as the primary hub for TDL expertise.

In this year’s Illinois General Assembly Spring Session, CJC advocated for policies that move us closer to an anti-racist workforce development system and employment equity. The Skills for Good Jobs expansive collaborative Agenda has encompassed several key initiatives led by partners and CJC.

Dr. Lisa Bly-Jones joined three others leaders from around the United States to testify in DC in front of the HELP full committee for the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. Read more about where we are now, as well as an update on House Bill 277 Failure to Appear.

We are saying goodbye to two beloved board members, Annita Jenke and Sheryl Homan, whom we honored at our annual meeting.

This event gathered experts to discuss aligning policies to effectively address and dismantle systemic racism in the workforce development space.

Recent feedback from CRC users praises the robust nature of the curriculum and highlights its ability to be customized.

The CWFA and CJC are committed to continuing this collaboration and are planning part two of the Funder Series for the next fiscal year.

On June 14th, we celebrated a great year and some major CJC accomplishments, such as the passing of House Bill 277 and CEO Dr. Lisa Bly-Jones testimony on Capitol Hill. The theme was reframing the narratives around workforce development and learning to think through a different lens regarding how we provide services, starting with more intentional collaboration.

On March 20th, the Chicago Jobs Council (CJC) hosted the second conversation as part of its Community of Practice series. This iteration, titled ‘Centering Lived Experience in Equity Policy Development,' focused on including and amplifying formerly incarcerated people's experiences in policymaking. The conversation brought together people from different workforce development organizations committed to reshaping their approach to workforce equity to better the workforce ecosystem.

The Chicago Jobs Council envisions a new workforce system centered on equity for all workers and job seekers. One of our policy planks is Eliminating Barriers to Employment, and a significant barrier to employment is stable and affordable housing. Bring Chicago Home, a referendum on March 19th’s primary ballot, allows Chicagoans to advocate for housing security and resources to connect people to employment, training, and other supportive wraparound services.

The Chicago Jobs Council commends the Governor for prioritizing workforce development in the FY25 budget address. The budget allocates more workforce development funds than the previous year, with investments across various programs and agencies.