The end of a year is a good time for reflection, while also providing an opportunity to look ahead. It’s a time to look back on the year and see what we dared to tackle, what we were able to advance, and determine what more we must do. It’s a time to connect and enjoy colleagues and friends we work closely with and those who we didn’t see as often as we would have liked. 

As 2024 approaches, the rollout of the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) is picking up speed. CJC’s EEC/EEP Roundtable was held on November 20th, 2023, and the event served as a platform for a comprehensive exploration of efforts to strengthen EEC and EEP participation in CEJA programs.

One of Chicago Jobs Council’s policy and advocacy planks is Changing Systems. As employment services often don't align well with the needs of people experiencing homelessness, we work with Chicago's homeless-response system to make jobs more accessible.

As workforce development practitioners and educators, our primary responsibility is to build and strengthen our communities. One of the ways we do this is through providing Career Readiness training. Career Readiness can help job seekers continually build on their existing skills and attributes, thus helping them navigate the workforce arena.

On Tuesday October 17th, CJC celebrated with members, partners, and supporters at our Fall Fundraiser at Midwest Coast Brewing for a night of casual fun and networking with guests from across the field of workforce development

In 2023, the Illinois General Assembly introduced several bills that align with the mission of the Chicago Jobs Council. These bills aim to promote equity, pathways, and the development of a robust workforce ecosystem. With the Illinois General Assembly’s Fall Veto session this week, this policy brief summarizes some of these bills, including others not on the Skills Agenda, from the perspective of the Chicago Jobs Council, aiming to present their importance and benefits.

Chicago Jobs Council was pleased to be a partner of the Second Annual Chicagoland Workforce Development Symposium hosted by Malcolm X College on October 12th, 2023. The theme of the event was Moving Equity from Concept to Reality. It was a day of engaging dialogues, stimulating panel discussions, and thought-provoking content for the workforce development ecosystem made up of practitioners, philanthropy, employers, government agencies, community-based organizations, and a host of others.

On September 26, 2023, CJC embarked on a journey to share its Anti-Racist Workforce Development System Framework with community and institutional leaders.

Chicago Jobs Council’s 2024 Board of Directors come from various fields within the workforce development ecosystem, including adult education, community college, employers, providers, community-based organizations, government, and much more. Their diverse perspectives will be vital in shaping CJC’s future and helping the organization navigate various challenges and opportunities.

The Supreme Court decision exclude the use of affirmative action and race considerations in college admissions reverses decades of progress and harms the future of the workforce. The ruling will also have broader implications for employment practices and equity principles.