white dollar sign with one yellow pip on top and one yellow pip on the bottom.

INCREASING WORKFORCE SYSTEM FUNDING

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Invest In All Workers.

Structuring funding at the Federal and State level that is consistent, adaptable and relevant to the changing needs of the economy safeguards everyone’s professional progress, no matter what situational changes they encounter during their careers.

We also believe that funding social enterprise, entrepreneurship, and worker-owned businesses creates unique opportunities for people who have trouble securing stable jobs.

Our Current Initiatives

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Equitable Economy

There are not enough jobs in the places where people need them most. We believe that entrepreneurship, social enterprise, and worker-owned businesses hold unique opportunities for people who have trouble securing stable jobs.

Prioritize Hiring From Workforce Training Organizations

We support economic development strategies that prioritize hiring locally and from workforce training organizations, including social enterprises.

Community Benefits Agreements

We support community benefits agreements that are enforceable by community members.

Promoting Worker-Owned Cooperatives

We participate in the Chicagoland Cooperative Economy Coalition with the goal of promoting worker-owned cooperatives as an employment strategy for marginalized job seekers.

Ensure Public Investments Include Job Training And Workforce Development

We push to ensure that huge public investments in areas like infrastructure include set-asides for job training and workforce development for low-income communities of color.

Advance Accountability And Job Quality

We advance accountability and job quality in local economic development.

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Food Assistance

Equitable food access should be a right for all, regardless of circumstance. We coordinate with human services to offer robust employment and training services for SNAP participants.

Pathways Not Punishment Policy Report

We advocate to increase resources for SNAP E&T, and promote coordination between our human services and workforce development system to build a skills-based employment strategy for SNAP participants in Illinois. Check out our Pathways Not Punishment Policy Report on SNAP E&T.

Passage Of SB1791

We supported the passage of SB1791 to transition SNAP E&T to a fully voluntary program in Illinois.

Fight Against Penalization Of SNAP Recipients

We collaborate with the SNAP Advocates table to fight against work requirements that penalize SNAP recipients for market conditions they cannot control.