What’s New

Elgin High School’s Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) Students Visit NIU

April 27, 2023

Elgin High School YEP Students Tour NIU Campus

Northern Illinois University (NIU) hosted Elgin High School’s (EHS) Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) sophomores on April 25, 2023. The purpose of the visit was to introduce YEP students to postsecondary opportunities early in the decision-making process giving them time to prepare during their junior and senior years for the next steps after graduation.

Students during their visit met NIU College of Education faculty, visited classroom and lab environments, and toured the residence halls. Students shared these experiences with EHS administrators, coaches, and counselors.

Alignment was excited to partner with NIU and EHS to offer this experience to the YEP students. The YEP program focuses on a critical time in the student’s high school experience. Originally proposed in 2021 as a partnership between U-46, the City of Elgin, and the Elgin Police Department, the program offers leadership development opportunities to students in the middle of their high school experience helping to ensure each student develops a viable plan of success for high school and the future.

Aaron Cobbs, EHS assistant football coach and Kimball Middle School teacher, has helped launch the program at both Elgin and Larkin high schools. Cobbs credits the success of the program this year to “a dedicated group of U-46 staff and community leaders coming together to do what’s best for students”. One of those leaders Nick Billone, EHS’s Dean of Students, describes the program “as an opportunity to go the extra mile with a committed high school administration and community”.

Alignment wishes to express its appreciation to NIU for participating in this collaboration and to recognize Christopher Lowe from the College of Education for coordinating the visit. Lowe also represents NIU on Alignment’s Teacher Pipeline regional initiative with U-46, District 300, District 301, ECC, Judson, and the Elgin Partnership for Early Learning (EPEL).

YEP Students visit with Chris Lowe and NIU’s College of Education

Alignment hosts 2023 Senior Job Fair for Career and Technical Education Students

April 24, 2023

Seniors Prepare for Employment at Job Fair

Nearly 400 high school students from School District U-46 and Central School District 301 attended the Senior CTE (career and technical education) Job Fair on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at Elgin Community College. Representatives from about 60 businesses, corporations, non-profits, municipalities, trade unions, colleges, and universities were present to meet with students. “An event like this shows students, as they’re preparing their postsecondary plans, that there are good options to work directly after high school, which also prepare them to be more competitive as they seek their long-term career goals” said Alignment Executive Director Nancy Coleman.

From all indications, this year’s job fair was an immediate success. “At least three job offers were made on the spot at the event,” said Terry Stroh, Executive Director, Northern Kane County Region 110 “including service technician positions at local auto dealerships and a maintenance position with a large equipment facility.”

“We were impressed by how many students know the direction they want to go after high school.” said Chad Randich, the business unit manager at Elgin Sweeper. He noted many students he spoke to were interested in a career in welding, a vital role at the company. U-46 offers a welding certification for students and its lab at Elgin High School is an accredited testing facility.

Mitchell Briesemeister, U-46 Director of Educational Pathways, remarked, “This is a place where we can connect high-wage, high-demand opportunities to our students who are choosing to explore entering the workforce immediately after high school. It is also a great way for our students to leverage the industry credentials they’ve earned in our high schools, which are valuable to our local partners.”

Students who attended the Senior CTE Job Fair benefitted from the experience. Jesse Villagomez, a senior at Elgin High School, spoke with representatives from Hoffer Plastics. He was intrigued by the variety of products Hoffer Plastics produces, such as car speaker covers. A speaker was on displayed on the table for students to view up close.

Villagomez is currently enrolled in Culinary Arts courses and he is grateful he will be able to cook confidently for himself, family, and friends. As far as a career, he is looking at other fields. “I don’t mind working hard,” he said. “The job fair opened my mind a little bit more. It’s making me flex my mind, thinking, ‘Is this what I want to do, or is it something more like this?’”.

Alignment’s community-wide work has focused on helping businesses offer educational experiences for students to demonstrate the link between high school completion and workplace opportunities.

Mark Seigle of the Seigle Foundation visited the event and was impressed at the large scale participation. He complimented Alignment on its success and said, “I spoke to a student who said he loved it and an employer who noted it was a great use of his time.”

Manufacturing
CV-Tek
ECC Apprenticeship Program
Electriflex
Hoffer Plastics
MAPAI
MCIP
Middleby

Welding
ECC Welding
Elgin Sweeper
S&C Electric

Culinary
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Culver’s
ECC Culinary
U-46 Food Services

Employment Services
Manpower

Business/Operations
Fisher Nuts – John B. Sanfilippo & Sons
KCT Credit Union
Nicor
State Farm
TBK Bank
U-46 Human Resources
U-46 Plant Operations

Education
Bartlett Park District
City of Elgin Parks and Rec
ECC Education Department
Judson University
Northern Illinois University
Primrose School of South Elgin
Streamwood Park District
YMCA

Healthcare
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Bella Terra Streamwood
ECC: Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Ophthalmic Tech
Forest View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Fox Valley Orthopaedic Associates
Gateway Express Clinic
Highland Oaks of Elgin
Illinois Pain and Spine Institute
Ascension Saint Joseph
The Atrium at Oak Crest Residents
Walgreens

Thank You to Our Sponsors

AED Foundation
Advocate Sherman Hospital
City of Elgin
Elgin Community College
Elgin Township
Exelon
Grand Victoria Foundation

Hoffer Foundation
David and Sandy Kaptain
Nicor Gas
Seigle Foundation
United Way Metro Chicago
Zurich Insurance

United Way of Metro Chicago Launches Neighborhood Network in Elgin with Leadership Gift from Nicor Gas Foundation

March 16, 2023

Alignment Collaborative for Education will lead
the vision and work of the Elgin Neighborhood Network

United Way of Metro Chicago, in collaboration with founding supporter Nicor Gas Foundation and lead partner agency Alignment Collaborative for Education, has announced the expansion of its Neighborhood Network Initiative in Elgin. Establishing a Neighborhood Network in Elgin empowers local neighborhood leaders to leverage a multi-year investment from Nicor Gas Foundation and support from United Way to identify and solve issues important to their community.

“United Way has a long-standing relationship and partnership with the Elgin community,” said United Way of Metro Chicago President and CEO Sean Garrett. “Along with the Nicor Gas Foundation, we are thrilled to work with our partners at Alignment Collaborative for Education to launch the Elgin Neighborhood Network and reaffirm United Way’s commitment to the residents of Elgin. Our goal is to continue to work together to build a community where everyone can reach their potential and thrive.”

“As the founding supporter of the Elgin Neighborhood Network, the Nicor Gas Foundation is honored to join United Way of Metro Chicago and our community partners on this transformative investment,” said Nicor Gas President and CEO Wendell Dallas. “We are committed to advancing equity in education for all young people. Nicor Gas is proud to support the Elgin Neighborhood Network and work in partnership with Alignment Collaborative for Education to provide workforce training opportunities and job readiness programs to better prepare high school students to pursue fulfilling careers.”

“The launch of the Elgin Neighborhood Network is a gamechanger for the Elgin community,” said Alignment Collaborative for Education Executive Director Nancy Coleman. “We are grateful for United Way of Metro Chicago and the Nicor Gas Foundation for believing in our work and joining our strong coalition of community leaders to ensure all people can thrive in Elgin, starting with crucial education and workforce development programming for our youth.”

Alignment and U-46 Host Second Annual HBCU Postsecondary Panel

March 2, 2023

Students and Parents/Families Visit with U-46 Alumni

Alignment in partnership with School District U-46 hosted its second annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) postsecondary panel on February 27 in recognition of Black History Month. Students and parents/families had the opportunity to visit with U-46 alumni currently enrolled in HBCU institutions including Dasani Johnson, a 2022 graduate of Larkin High School and current student at Howard University, and Kamaria Bush, a graduate of South Elgin High School and current graduate student studying biomedical engineering at North Carolina A&T.

Students and parents/families also had the opportunity to visit with City of Elgin Councilman Corey Dixon, a graduate of Elgin High School and Grambling State University. For specific information regarding the university admissions process, Alignment and U-46 were joined by Roger Gray, admissions representative for Tuskegee University serving the Illinois territory. Students benefited from learning about why panelists chose to attend an HBCU as their postsecondary choice along with advice from all panelists about how best to proceed in selecting a postsecondary institution to include discussions about financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

Teresa A. Lance, U-46 assistant superintendent for equity and innovation, praised the panelists for their role in “inspiring and encouraging students and their parents/families to explore the opportunities that HBCU institutions offer to students as they prepare for their postsecondary experience”. Dr. Lance also expressed her appreciation to the parents and families joining the session in support of their students’ goals and aspirations.

Alignment as part of its involvement in U-46’s district wide equity work is committed to exposing students and their families to an array of postsecondary opportunities so that students are ready to make informed decisions upon graduation.

Larkin High School Introduces Students to Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology and Trades Professions

February 24, 2023

Alignment Career Panel- Teachers and Students

Larkin High School Hosts Automotive, Electrical, Engineering, Large Equipment Maintenance, Manufacturing, and Welding Career Opportunities

On February 22, Larkin High School in partnership with Alignment invited business professionals to its campus to share with students the high demand apprenticeship and job opportunities in automotive, electrical, engineering, large equipment maintenance, manufacturing, and welding.

Katie Lauesen, counselor for Larkin High School coordinated the event with teachers and students. They worked together to identify students with interest in these careers. As a result of their efforts, over 200 students benefited from the event. Diane Kriescher, Engineering (PLTW) teacher, recognized Alignment and the business community. “Thank you so much for orchestrating the career panel at Larkin High School today. The speakers were phenomenal. It’s always a great day when students have exposure to career fields and educational options.”

Alignment appreciates its business and postsecondary partners, who chose to spend their day motivating students about the future and advising them how to navigate their high school experience to best prepare for these professions.

Participating Organizations

Altorfer
Elgin Community College
Elgin Sweeper
IBEW Local 117
IBEW Local 196
Illinois Department of Employment Security
ITW Shakeproof
Lauderdale Electric
Manufacturing Careers Internship Program
Mechanics Local 701
Nicor
Universal Technical Institute

Automotive, Large Equipment and Maintenance Panel

Alignment prepares students for summer internships and the senior job fair

February 9, 2023

Alignment’s program manager, Edgar Montes, leads student discussions.

Over 500 High School Students Ready to Develop Resumes and Prepare for Interviews

To prepare interested juniors in applying this spring for summer internships and to help seniors seeking employment after graduation prepare for the senior job fair on Thursday, April 20, Alignment provided U-46 students with work-based learning skills including an application, resume and interviewing skills workshop. Alignment’s program manager, Edgar Montes, led students in a discussion of application tips, resume development, and interview preparation.

Alignment is also offering interested students the opportunity to have their resumes reviewed and edited by local human resources partners within the Alignment Collaborative to include Gail Borden Public Library, Junior Achievement, and the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) for a three week period during mid February thru early March. Over 500 students to date have attended the initial application, resume and interview workshop, and we are looking forward to the opportunities they have to use these skills applying for internships and summer jobs.