In Quarter 2, we launched a Membership Committee to focus on how we nurture and support our members. As a result, we’ve implemented more intentional strategies to improve the onboarding experience for new members.

At CJC we are intentional about Capacity Building to equip the workforce development field.

CJC hosted another CEJA Chicagoland Grantee Convening on December 10th, also referred to as the CEJA Table, with 26 attendees representing 13 grantee recipients for the Energy Transition Navigators, CEJA workforce hubs, and Climate Pre-Apprenticeship programs.

Our member Workforce Convos series continues to spark critical conversations and generate actionable insights that shape the workforce development field. These events provide a platform for diverse voices—including policy experts, workforce leaders, and young adults—to share their perspectives and collaborate on solutions to pressing workforce challenges.

As we observe Poverty in America Awareness Month, it's crucial to recognize the profound impact of poverty in our communities. Nationally, 11.5% of the population—approximately 37.9 million people—live in poverty, facing significant barriers to securing family-supporting jobs and a hopeful future.

The situation mirrors the national landscape in Illinois, with 12.1% of residents living below the federal poverty line. In Chicago, the poverty rate is notably higher at 16.8%, affecting more than 450,000 individuals.

Pay transparency is a critical step toward creating equitable workplaces where fairness and opportunity thrive. With the recent amendment to the Illinois Equal Pay Act now in effect, Illinois employers with 15 or more employees must include pay scales and benefits in job postings, ensuring job seekers have access to essential information. This policy, championed by Chicago Jobs Council and our Skills Agenda Table partners, helps remove employment barriers and fosters accountability in hiring practices.

 At Chicago Jobs Council (CJC), our recent Workforce Convo highlighted key strategies for navigating this changed political landscape. While methods may evolve, our core values of equity, opportunity, and systemic change remain constant. Here are ten actionable takeaways from our conversation to help you stay mission-driven and impactful in the year ahead.

Chicago’s guaranteed income program has been cut from the city budget, a decision that impacts thousands of low-income households and derails opportunities to measure its long-term benefits. At the Chicago Jobs Council, we believe guaranteed income is a vital step toward creating economic equity and strengthening communities. It’s time for Chicago to prioritize sustainable funding for programs like these to ensure every resident has the support they need to thrive.

Discover how the Chicago Jobs Council serves as an essential intermediary in workforce development, driving equitable change through advocacy, training, and partnerships. Learn how we connect job seekers, training providers, employers, and policymakers to create lasting opportunities and systemic solutions.

This National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) marks the 10th annual celebration of apprenticeships’ role in strengthening our workforce. As we reflect on the impact of these programs, the Chicago Jobs Council (CJC) remains focused on our mission to help individuals find their unique pathway out of poverty. Apprenticeships are critical pathways, and expanding access to them is essential. Although apprenticeships are often associated with construction and trades, they span thousands of occupations—from healthcare to tech—each offering a meaningful route to a stable, rewarding career.

Grantee recipients of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in the Chicagoland area convened on Wednesday, October 30th at the Chicago Jobs Council, to discuss how workforce development organizations taking on the Energy Navigator Transition, CEJA Workforce Hubs, and Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship programs can align the CEJA workforce systems streamline the clean energy recruitment to training pipeline.  

Greater West Town Project (GWTP) is dedicated to expanding educational and economic opportunities for low-income communities of color in Chicago. Focusing on the West Side neighborhoods of Humboldt Park, East and West Garfield Park, Belmont Cragin, Austin, and North Lawndale, GWTP has been serving these highly barriered communities for over 35 years.

At the Third Annual Workforce Symposium, workforce development professionals across the Chicagoland area were instrumental in exploring the theme, “Fostering Collaboration: Bridging the Gap Between Workers, Employers, and Community.” Their insights, best practices, and program successes throughout the day were pivotal in exploring how to create a more equitable workforce system. The event was hosted by the Chicago Workforce Funder Alliance, which partnered and planned with the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, World Business Chicago, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Chicago Jobs Council, and The Innovation Nexus.

The Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) is poised to drive a clean energy transformation across the state, prioritizing equity and workforce development. While the implementation of CEJA may feel stalled at times, there is lots of momentum. At the Chicago Jobs Council (CJC), we are keenly focused on a unified workforce development system that’s aligned and well coordinated to support the communities that have been historically marginalized by ensuring they have access to quality jobs and training in the clean energy sector.

On October 9, 2024, the Chicago Jobs Council hosted a CJC Workforce Convo focused on Bridging Expectations: Enhancing Job Satisfaction and Retention for Young Workers. The event featured insights from workforce leaders, career coaches, and—most importantly—young adults themselves. The conversation centered on how we can better understand, support, and retain Gen Z workers, who bring a unique perspective and set of challenges to the workforce.

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.