What’s New

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.

Alignment’s Executive Director, Nancy Coleman, leads discussion on internships.

School District U-46 High School Counselors visit Advocate Sherman Hospital and Elgin Community College

February 1, 2023

Providing experiences for high school counselors to better advise students seeking careers in healthcare.

Counselors and administrators from all five School District U-46 high schools and the Dream Academy participated in the U-46 Healthcare Day with visits to Elgin Community College (ECC) and Advocate Sherman Hospital on January 27, 2023.

The event, sponsored by the Alignment Collaborative for Education in partnership with School District U-46, was planned to better equip counselors in guiding students interested in healthcare careers towards appropriate high school course offerings to include CTE program and its Health Sciences course offerings.

Nancy Coleman, Executive Director, Alignment Collaborative for Education, praised the commitment from Advocate Sherman, ECC, and U-46 in providing this opportunity to high school counselors. “Their experience strengthens their understanding of how healthcare careers can begin and flourish,” said Coleman, “while students are completing their high school experience with a seamless pathway to post-secondary education and optimal employment opportunities.”

The tour at Elgin Community College included visiting health science programs and labs to include certificate and degree programs in Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Massage Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nursing, Ophthalmic Technician, Radiology, and Surgical Tech.

“We are excited to introduce these programs to high school counselors to share with students about these high demand career opportunities,” said Wendy Miller, Dean, Health Professions, Math, Science and Engineering, Elgin Community College. “ECC continues to expand its program offerings in the health professions to meet the workforce development needs of our local healthcare industry.”

After the ECC visit, counselors went to Advocate Sherman Hospital and were welcomed by Advocate’s president, Sheri DeShazo. Following a discussion of Advocate’s role in the community and the healthcare industry, counselors met key department leaders in Medical Lab Services, Nursing, Pharmacy Services, Radiology, Rehabilitation Service, and Respiratory Care. Counselors learned about current and future job openings and salary data as well as promotion opportunities within each of these healthcare fields. Counselors then visited almost every wing of the hospital to tour each of these operations.

“As a long-time partner of Alignment Collaborative for Education, Advocate Sherman Hospital is honored to host U-46 high school counselors for Alignment’s healthcare career pathways field trip,” said DeShazo. “As the nation faces a healthcare worker shortage it’s increasingly important for us to educate students about these career opportunities, and our local high school counselors are key partners in this effort. Within the field of healthcare, there are many different roles with varying education requirements, so events like this can provide important information for a broad spectrum of healthcare careers that counselors can take back to their students.”

Alignment and School District U-46 are grateful to partner with Advocate Sherman and ECC to engage counselors and students in career exploration within healthcare, one of the strongest and fastest growing industry sectors within the Greater Elgin area. ECC and Advocate Sherman contribute greatly to the economic prosperity of the Elgin area and its quality healthcare system. Both are long-term partners with the Alignment Collaborative for Education and are always looking to the future assisting the region with workforce development initiatives starting in the middle and high schools.

Sheri DeShazo welcomes school counselors at Advocate Sherman

Alignment Congratulates Bill Wright

January 31, 2023

Alignment congratulates our Governing Board Chairman Bill Wright on this prestigious honor.

Daily Herald Article
Streamwood Park District, 1/27/2023 2:16 PM

The Streamwood Park District proudly announces Commissioner William “Bill” Wright has received the Mike Cassidy Commissioner Community Service Award from the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA). The award was presented to Wright during the All-Conference Awards Luncheon at the annual IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago on Friday, January 27.

This annual award is presented to an elected official who has demonstrated the highest example of community service, personal integrity and ingenuity, and whose volunteer service to his or her community emulates the vision and voluntary efforts demonstrated by former IAPD Board President and longtime Commissioner with the Freeport Park District, Mike Cassidy, to improve the quality of life for those in his or her community.
Nominated for the award by Streamwood Park District Executive Director Jeffrey Janda, Wright has served as Park Board Commissioner for 15 years serving in a variety of capacities, including President, Vice President, Ethics Officer, and Committee Chairman.

Wright’s long list of accomplishments include the establishment of a Summer Reading in the Park program, which provides free lunches and early childhood learning activities for area youth, supporting area students through his leadership with Alignment Collaborative for Education, and leveraging needed funding for facilities, parks, playgrounds and educational opportunities through his relationships with local businesses, state legislators and other local officials. He even assists Santa Claus by filling in for him at local events in Streamwood during the holiday season.
Janda said Wright is the type of individual that not only gets involved but when he puts his mind to something, things get done.

“Bill is a man of many talents and abilities and is very passionate about finding the right solution that can bring significant cultural change and make an impact for years to come,” said Janda.
Wright also annually assists the Park District in coordinating and promoting its Hoosier Grove Barn and Brew event, which benefits the organization’s scholarship fund. The 2023 edition of Hoosier Grove Barn and Brew returns this May to the grounds of the award-winning Hoosier Grove Barn, 700 W. Irving Park Road. As usual, Wright is right in the middle of soliciting beer vendors and breweries to participate.

The Streamwood Park District congratulates Commissioner Wright on this honor and for his continued service to the residents of Streamwood.

Read the full article.