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Alignment Collaborative for Education - ACE

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Alignment Welcomes New Elgin Neighborhood Network Facilitator

January 9, 2025

Alignment Collaborative for Education is pleased to announce the addition of Parker Thompson as the Elgin Neighborhood Network (ENN) facilitator as it expands the ENN focus to include additional community needs such as public health, food and nutrition, housing, transportation, and education, as well as continuation of future workforce development initiatives.

Parker recently joined Well Child Center as Senior Program Manager. He will support the ENN as well as lead Well Child Center’s programming focused on the expansion of behavioral health support and services through one of the largest Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs in Illinois. His responsibilities include support for a grant-funded program focused on the integration of mental, human, and health services support.

In his facilitator role of the Elgin Neighborhood Network, Parker’s responsibilities will include building and maintaining relationships across the greater Elgin area and convening various stakeholder groups, such as the Elgin Human Services Council, to review the needs of the community and help identify priorities for the Neighborhood Network Steering Committee.  

Parker brings over a decade of experience in non-profit management and program implementation. Prior to joining Well Child Center, Parker founded and led the community based nonprofit Elgin Community Bikes, which provides community programming and works with local and regional government on equitable transportation and planning policy. With a passion for community health and equity, Parker will be implementing Well Child Center’s Connections: Integration of Maternal Mental Health Support and Services, as well as supporting the growing efforts of the Elgin Neighborhood Network.

Filed Under: Alignment, United Way Elgin Neighborhood Network

Robert (Bob) Malm recognized by the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce

November 27, 2024

Non-Profit Volunteer of the Year, 2024

Bob Malm, Alignment's 2024 Volunteer of the Year
Bob Malm, far left, is Alignment’s Volunteer of the Year

The Alignment Collaborative for Education (Alignment) nominated Bob Malm as one of the Elgin Area Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year at the annual Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce Thanksgiving recognition held on November 26, 2024 at Elgin Community College. Bob and his wife Carolyn have been role models of the community for over a decade.  Passionate about workforce development and community, Bob has worked tirelessly to ensure students and families have the resources needed to prepare for future economic and social success.

Bob began his service mindset in the military followed by years of service with the City of Elgin and later retiring to help the business community with workforce development.  During that time, Bob became a chief advocate of Alignment encouraging the community to invest in middle and high school students preparing them to graduate academic and career ready.  Bob continues in this leadership role and has for over five years served on Alignment’s Operating Board and currently chairs Alignment’s Educational Pathways A-Team.  Under his leadership, Alignment reached a milestone of serving over 10,000 students in 2024.  

Bob believes in the power of education to change lives and to shape the future prosperity of a community, the region, and the state.  It is befitting to be able to recognize Bob for the many contributions he has made to Alignment and the Elgin community.

Filed Under: Alignment, Awards, Board Members, Community Partnerships, Volunteers

Giving Thanks for Our Partners

November 22, 2024

Giving Thanks 2024

As we celebrate this season of gratitude, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous support and partnership. Your continued commitment has made a significant impact, and we are truly grateful for all that you do.

Wishing you a joyous and peaceful Thanksgiving filled with warmth and happiness!


To learn more about the impact of your support, please review our interactive Annual Report highlighting our 2024 results.


As you generously give on Giving Tuesday, we kindly ask to be remembered, as your support continues to make a meaningful difference in our shared mission to prepare students to be academically and career ready.

The future of our workforce depends on it!

Filed Under: Alignment, Community Partnerships

Zurich Hosts Second Annual Tour for U-46 Students

November 1, 2024

Thank you to Junior Achievement (JA) and Zurich Insurance for hosting the second annual Zurich Insurance tour for students from Bartlett, Larkin, and Streamwood high schools.  Approximately 80 students spent the day at Zurich touring the company’s headquarters and learning about its apprenticeship programs. Previous U-46 graduates currently working for Zurich served as tour guides for the event along with JA and Zurich employees leading workshops in “It’s My Future”. 

Alignment and School District U-46 continue to have strong partnerships with both JA and Zurich.  Nancy Coleman, Alignment’s executive director, described the partnership as ” a shared mission between Alignment, JA, and Zurich to expose students to the corporate world and the steps necessary to be successful in that workplace. This partnership is long standing as evidenced by Zurich providing employment opportunities for U-46 graduates as a result of the three partners working together to help prepare students for the future workforce.”

Filed Under: Alignment, Career Education, Community Partnerships

Senior Postsecondary Virtual Day

October 23, 2024

More than 25 universities, colleges, and organizations joined Alignment and School District U-46 for the third annual Senior Postsecondary Virtual Day on October 16. A record number of students attended with 794 individual seniors participating. Seniors who attended the event were able to get information from university and college admissions staff, current college students, FAFSA, military service, and NCAA eligibility, etc.

For students who are undecided about their interest in postsecondary colleges and universities, a session was included about future employment and apprenticeship opportunities with information about Elgin Community College’s apprenticeship programs and the outlook for future employment in the region and state.

Thank you to the following colleges, universities, and organizations for partnering with Alignment and U-46 to offer the Senior Postsecondary Day:

Aurora University
Bradley University
DePaul University
Elgin Community College
Elmhurst University
Harper College
Honest Game – NCAA Academic Eligibility
Illinois Department of Employment Security
Illinois State University
Judson University
Lincoln College of Technology
Loyola University
Marquette University
North Central College
Northern Illinois University
Nova Southeastern University
Purdue University
Southern Illinois University
Universal Technical Institute
University of Dayton
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
U.S. Armed Forces
Western Illinois University
Xavier University

Filed Under: Alignment, Career Education, Education, Post Secondary Education

Strong Collaborations Lead to $8 Million for Youth Apprenticeships

September 12, 2024

Brian McGuire, President and CEO, AED Foundation; Illinois State Senator Cristina Castro; U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi; Mark Toulos, Operating Engineers Local 150; Melissa Owens, President, U-46 Board of Education; Eric Hill, CEO, Youth Workforce Development Foundation

Thank you to Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) Foundation and Youth Workforce Development Foundation (YWDF)

South Elgin High School made the news serving as the announcement site for an $8 million dollar grant awarded through the Build America program to help high school students across the state access apprenticeship programs in heavy machine maintenance and operations. Led by Alignment’s partner, the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) Foundation, in partnership with the Youth Workforce Development Foundation (YWDF), and  SkillsUSA Illinois, Eric Hill, CEO of YWDF, shared with the greater Elgin community the framework for the grant to build youth-focused apprenticeships that create a “pipeline to long-term career opportunities in the heavy equipment space”.  

Brian McGuire, president of the AED Foundation joined by U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and Illinois State Senator Cristina Castro, together shared the importance and significance of this grant to train the future workforce in a career field projecting 40,000 job vacancies. Across the region, Terry Stroh, director, Northern Kane County Region 110, has worked in partnership with school districts U-46, 300, and 301 to expand career options for students enrolled in the region’s automotive CTE programs.  

Just this past summer, Alignment joined efforts across Region 110 to offer paid summer internship opportunities to automotive students hosted by ALTA, West Side Tractor, and the Bob Loquercio Auto Group. Sean Fitzgerrel, Vice President of the AED Foundation, led efforts to bring Alignment, Region 110, and YWDC together sharing that “the Alignment Collaborative played a pivotal role in securing ABA Round 2 funding. Through strategic partnerships and a shared vision, they amplified our effort, demonstrating the collective power of collaboration in driving workforce development and educational advancement.”

Brian McGuire, President and CEO, AED Foundation; Illinois State Senator Cristina Castro; U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi; Mark Toulos, Operating Engineers Local 150; Melissa Owens, President, U-46 Board of Education; Eric Hill, CEO, Youth Workforce Development Foundation
Steve Schertz, U-46 Automotive Teacher, State Senator Cristina Castro, Esther Mongan, Superintendent, Central Unit School District 301
U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi
ALTA Interns
ALTA Intern
West Side Tractor Interns
West Side Tractor Interns
Bob Loquercio Auto Group Interns

Filed Under: Alignment, Community Awareness, Grant Awards, Internships

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Recent Posts

  • Alignment and Northern Kane County Region 110 Job Fair Attracts Students Across the Region
  • Sophomore/Junior Postsecondary Day Reaches Over 3,600 Students!
  • Alignment Prepares Students to Go To Work
  • Teachers Visit Flender’s Expanding Operations in Elgin
  • Region 110 Celebrates Nancy Coleman as the IACTE Carl Perkins Community Service Award Winner

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Alignment Collaborative for Education - ACE

31 S. Grove Ave
Elgin, IL 60120
Tel: 224-227-7534
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