This event is NOT a job fair. The chamber is hoping to accomplish
two things with this initial Workforce Readiness Expo:
-
Prepare our high
school students in Logan County for the next step, whatever that
next step would be for them. The expo offers workshops on career
planning, goal setting, resume writing (interviewing), how to
find a job, how to keep a job, and how to maximize their
remaining years in school.
-
With the business expo portion of this
event, the chamber of commerce hopes to show Logan County youth
that there are viable careers in Logan County, so they don't
have to leave to make a good living.
"Instead of job shadowing just one career, this event equips
students with needed skills while exposing them to numerous local
occupations," said Kristi Powell, of Heartland Community College and
a member of the planning task force for the expo. "Not only will
students get the opportunity to engage with business owners,
managers and other key players in industries around Logan County all
in one location, but they will receive valuable training from
experts in HR and career planning."
High school seniors will stay at Lincoln College all day, and
four groups of students will rotate between three workshop sessions
and a business expo in the Lincoln Center gym. The workshops the
seniors will attend are Getting the Job, taught by a Walmart
representative; Finding the Job, taught by a representative from
Heartland Community College; and Succeeding on the Job, taught by a
representative from Eaton Corp.
Freshmen will attend workshops at the Lincoln Park District Rec
Center, and in addition, one group every session will be bused over
to Lincoln College to have time in the business expo portion of the
event. Workshop topics for the freshmen will be Finding Your Path
(career assessments), taught by a representative from What's Next
Illinois; Navigating Your Path, taught by a representative from
Eaton Corp.; and You're on Your Way, taught by a representative from
Heartland Community College.
"The event evolved from a conversation I had with Erin Varner, a
counselor from LCHS, who now serves on the expo's planning task
force," said Andi Hake, executive director of the chamber of
commerce. "Erin and I were attending a JOBS (Healthy Communities
Partnership Education Task Force initiative to help place high school
students in business mentorships and employment) informational
event. After Erin and I spoke, it became obvious to both of us that
the chamber and our high schools working together to help prepare
our young adults for the workforce would be a win-win situation."
The date and students were chosen by Lincoln High School. April
27 is a state testing date for sophomores and juniors. In the past
the freshman and seniors did activities off campus, such as job
shadowing in other communities outside of Logan County, and freshman
went on tours of colleges. These trips were costly to the school and
did not engage the students locally.
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"It wasn't the ideal situation having freshman going on college
tours so early in their high school career, or having our seniors
going to Springfield or St. Louis to job shadow, but that is what we
had available to us at the time," said Bret Hitchings, with Lincoln
Community High School. "When Andi brought this new concept to us, we
were thrilled to be a part of a local program that was relevant to
all students attending the event and engaged them locally."
The invitation to attend this event was sent to all Logan County
high schools, but this year LCHS is the only school that will be
taking part.
"We are hoping this will change, once we've had a successful
event under our belt," Hake said. "In future years we are hoping we
can help other schools overcome some obstacles that prevented them
from joining us this year."
There are still spots available for Logan County businesses to
set up a booth at the expo. The table and space are provided, and
there is no fee. The event will be at the Lincoln College Lincoln
Center from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. For more details, contact
the chamber office at 217-735-2385 or
chamber@lincolnillinois.com.
The Workforce Readiness Expo directly reflects the mission of the
chamber to be an advocate for business by providing leadership,
programs and services that create, protect and enhance the business
environment for the benefit of chamber members and for Lincoln and
Logan County.
[Text from file received from
the Lincoln/Logan County
Chamber of Commerce]
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