Pathways to Careers Network Upcoming Events

Survey – Respond by Feb. 14 to shape a bold policy agenda to make adult college and career transitions a priority for Illinois! Do you want to help adult learners move from low skills to good jobs? Do you want to make adult college and career transitions a priority for Illinois leaders? Do you want the chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, we encourage you to respond to the Pathways to Careers Network survey. As a collaboration of Women Employed and the Chicago Jobs Council, the Network brings together people and organizations to move adult learners from low skills to good jobs. We provide information on effective program models and we facilitate connections among education and workforce development providers to share ideas and strategies. 
 
Your input helps us develop and advance a bold policy agenda that makes adult college and career transitions a priority for Illinois. Please take time today to respond to our survey to help us identify the opportunities and barriers to expanding effective programs for adults like bridge programs. We’re interested to learn your feedback on funding sources, policies, and partnerships.

Your time is as valuable as your feedback, that’s why we’re offering the chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card to all respondents who complete the survey by Friday February 14, 2014. Click here to take the survey today!

Webinar – Register today to help shape OVAE national action plan, Time for the U.S. to Reskill

The Pathways to Careers Network and Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition will host a webinar on Tuesday February 25 from 12-1:30 PM to gather your input to send to the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) at the U.S. Department of Education. 

Your input will help OVAE develop a national action plan in response to an OECD report that shows 36 million adults lack basic skills. 

During this 90-minute webinar you will have a chance to provide feedback on the following topics: 

Strengthen the link with the economy: Your experience with career pathways programs, like bridge programs or other occupational skills programs, will inform OVAE's action plan to engage more employers and increase their support through things like jobs, internships, and curriculum.

Setting Priorities: The OECD data shows a big gap in adult skills for specific groups and they want input on whether resources should be focused on specific groups, i.e. immigrants, African Americans, ex-offenders.  

Expanding and Scaling Opportunities: The report documents the gap in resources to help low-skilled adults and OVAE wants to know your ideas about how federal resources for adult learning can leverage other federal, state, and local resources, as well as private-sector resources.

Improve the quality of teaching and instruction: How do we ensure the placement of college and career readiness standards at the center of all instruction and assessment in adult education programs across the country? And what tools, support, and professional working conditions are necessary for teachers to develop a world-class adult education workforce?

To ensure a rich discussion, please read OVAE's brief consultation paper, Time for the U.S. to Reskill, and review OVAE's one-page infographic profile of Illinois adults.

Click here to register for the webinar.

To learn more about the Pathways to Careers Network, access archived webinars, or download daily lesson plans for bridge programs, please visit our website or contact: Mary Kay Devine mdevine@womenemployed.org 312-782-3902 ext. 224.