Neighborhood Network Initiative

The Elgin Neighborhood Network (ENN) was launched in March 2023, with founding support from Nicor Gas Foundation. Alignment Collaborative for Education serves as the “community quarterback” for the Elgin Network. In 2024, ENN began to expand its mission scope beyond youth workforce development by hiring a Network Facilitator in partnership with Well Child Center. In 2025, ENN adopted new goals and objectives to use the coalition model to address additional community needs around youth mental health, nutrition, and transportation, and launched a Youth Mental Health Work Group.

Vision of the Elgin Neighborhood Network

Investing in youth and families to ensure the future strength of the community and its workforce.

Network Infrastructure Priorities

• Establishing Community-Led Priorities. Engage the Neighborhood Network’s steering committee and workgroups in identifying and prioritizing community needs that impact the quality of life for Elgin families. This includes conducting community listening sessions and surveys to gather input directly from families.
• Strengthening Strategic Governance. The Steering Committee, comprised of diverse Elgin community leaders, oversees the strategic direction of network activities to ensure the Neighborhood Network catalyzes thriving community wellbeing and a strong local economy through access to resources and partnerships.
• Enhancing Collaborative Resources and Communications. Develop a comprehensive communication plan to promote collaborative resources, including a social media strategy and community outreach materials. Establish a centralized online platform or database listing collaborative resources to increase awareness and accessibility for families and students.

Network Program Priorities

• Expanding Focus Beyond Workforce Development. While continuing to prioritize Future Workforce Development and Work-Based Learning, the ENN is expanding its focus to address critical community needs in Mental Health, Nutrition, and Transportation.
• Leading Targeted Workgroups. A workgroup for the identified priority area of Youth Mental Health has already been established. This workgroup outlines priorities and a related workplan for consideration by the Steering Committee. Workgroups for Nutrition and Transportation will follow as capacity grows.
• Increasing Access to Academic and Career Readiness Services. Expand access and participation in annual postsecondary planning for high school students beginning as early as the sophomore year of high school, serving 30 percent more students. Increase work-based learning initiatives to serve 13,000 students annually, a 30% increase. Summer paid internship opportunities have expanded to serve over 240 students in summer 2025, a 64% increase from summer 2024.
• Fostering New Community Partnerships and Initiatives. Identify shared initiatives across Elgin’s non-profit and business partners to address critical needs in the community as prioritized by the steering committee and its workgroups. Establish new partnerships between non-profit and business partners to address prioritized community needs. Launch shared initiatives that combine resources from multiple partners, focused on Mental Health and Nutrition.

Elgin Neighborhood Network Steering Committee

Elgin Neighborhood Network
Youth Mental Health Work Group