Career Connections Newsletter- June 2022

Information Technology continues to be a fast-growing industry, and has been determined an indemand career field

jobs4people.org will.works

IS A CAREER IN I.T. RIGHT FOR YOU?

June brings celebrations of Juneteenth and Pride Month, and employers are increasing efforts of DEI in the workplace

@workwillcounty

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE

CAREER CONNECTIONS, JUNE 2022

Table of Contents 02 Careers in IT 03 Green Jobs 04 DEI Corner: Celebrating Juneteenth 06 Meet Dave!

08 DEI Corner: Pride & Pronouns 10 Success Stories: Anthony Thompson 11 Success Stories: Conrad Hardemann

A CAREER IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU? Informational sources: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ https://www.comptia.org

Studies show that I.T., or information technology, related jobs will continue to increase in 2022 as more companies and organizations look into incorporating I.T. solutions into their business practices. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook is projected to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030.

IT occupations are in-demand, according to Illinois WorkNet, meaning you may be able to receive a scholarship of up to $10,000 to return to school and pursue a job in this field.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for computer and information technology occupations was $97,430 in May of 2021, higher than the median annual wage for all fields of $45,760.

Job titles you may be qualified for after completing your field of study include: Application Developer Network Engineer Software Developer Computer Programmer Systems Analyst and more!

If you're interested in learning more about pursuing a career in Information Technology, visit jobs4people.org or call us at 815-727-4444 to speak to a career planner today!

To see a complete list of programs covered by the career scholarships through the WIOA grant, visit: https://www.illinoisworknet.com

DID YOU We offer up to $10,000 inn scholarship funds for KNOW? eligible Will County residents to pursue Information Technology-related careers!

112% 667,600

74%

Occupations in I.T. earn 112% more than other occupations

I.T. occupations are projected to add 667,600 new jobs

IT..j ob satisfaction remains high overall, with 74% of IT pros satisfied with their careers in North America and 72% satisfied globally.

You may enjoy a career in I.T. if you: like to solve problems are meticulous/have strong attention to detail have excellent time management and organizational skills analytical abilities are naturally curious and creative

GreenJobs

ComEd to train, hire 180 new entry-level employees in 2022 to meet demands for Illinois' Clean Energy Transformation As Illinois continues its clean energy transformation, ComEd is already preparing to meet future demand by investing in expanding its apprenticeship program and recruiting local talent, all while committing to DEI initiatives. On May 17th, 2022, the company announced that they would hire 180 new employees this year and plan to fill an additional 500 entry-level roles over the next three years.

Applications opened May 23rd on their job board with 70 new overhead helper jobs. Their apprenticeship program is paid by ComEd, with starting rates at $28/hour during training, with a opportunity to earn full-time union employment with the company upon completion.

Overcoming Barriers To help residents overcome barriers to employment, ComEd also offers a variety of free one-day training programs that target local and diverse job seekers. These include climb clinics, math clinics and interviewing workshops. Additionally, applicants can take an online practice CAST test, an industry entrance exam that tests math and reading skills.

Community and Personal Prosperity By providing opportunities for sustainable household wages and new career paths, families and communities are expected to prosper. ComEd also sponsors multiple career training programs, including the Overhead Electric Line Worker training program at City Colleges' Dawson Technical Institute, which helps candidates earn an advanced certificate. Other training programs include Illinois Energy Workforce, Powering our Future, OEWL Program, and more!

Click to read ComEd's Press Release

INVESTED IN DEI "If you are someone that enjoys making a difference in your community, bringing solutions to problems, and the camaraderie of being on a team – then I encourage you to consider applying to join ComEd's frontline."

-Savoya Taylor, ComEd's first woman overhead electrician specialist.

Fast Facts: ComEd has a partnership with Chicago Women in Trades 45% of a recently graduated class from ComEds CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Training Academy were women.

ComEd developed the Diverse Energy Efficency Service Provider Incubator Program

ComEd is urging interested candidates to prepare to apply now. To be considered, applicants must meet minimum qualifications, including having a GED/high school diploma, driver's license and the ability to earn a commercial driver's license (CDL) permit A. Candidates with overhead line experience, climb or trades school training, military service, and skilled trades experience will be given priority consideration.

DEICORNER

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?

CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH

Juneteenth celebrates freedom, justice, and equity. Specifically, it commemorates a single moment, June 19th, 1865, when the last black enslaved people in the US were set free in Galveston, Texas. This observance is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the US. Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, or Jubilee Day, ending slavery nearly two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It has been celebrated by communities since 1866.

After years of resistance, in addition to recent economic and cultural development, Juneteenth has made a resurgence in celebration thanks to communities and organizations throughout the country. Systemic racism is still an issue today, even after 150+ years after signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Celebrating freedom and equity while learning more about cultural differences should not occur a few days out of the year. We must continue to educate ourselves and others everyday.

Other 1%

A lot 12%

Nothing at all 28%

Some 25%

In June of 2021, Congress passed the legislation to establish Juneteenth National Independence Day as a federal, legal holiday, celebrated on June 19th each year. >>> A Little Bit 34%

CORPORATIONS HONORING JUNETEENTH AS PAID HOLIDAY SAY IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO Many employees are looking for leaders to celebrate diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Although Juneteenth is now recognized as a federal, legal holiday, private businesses are not required to give employees time off for holidays.

However, federal organizations such as banks, schools, and more observe legal holidays with days off.

8

%

OF U.S. ORGNIAZATIONS ARE OFFERING JUNETEENTH AS A PAID HOLIDAY (2020)

96%

4%

OF THE 8%, 96% STARTED OFFERING IN 2020

OF THE 8%, 4% OFFERED PRIOR TO 2020

Organizations begin to honor and acknowledge Juneteenth by recognizing observance in the workplace via staff communications, events, and time off. More and more companies announce their plans for workplace Juneteenth celebrations, and variations of support and inclusivity shine through.

Companies like Adobe and Altria urge their employees to use their day off to reflect on advocacy and embrace differences. Fiat Chrysler and Ford Motor are honoring the observance with workplace moments of silence, while Twitter and Square are providing additional cultural education for employees.

"Systemic racism is pervasive, and we must not be complicit by inaction or silence. For our society to eliminate the inequities in America, each of us needs to have the will to change, the heart to trust, and the energy to lead." -Allstate's release on Driving Societal Change.

LEARN MORE: To learn more about Juneteenth, visit:

DID YOU KNOW? Sources

https://www.history.com https://www.juneteenth.com https://www.battlefields.org

Juneteenth has been recognized as a holiday with Paid Time Off in the County of Will as of 2022!

Patterson, Anne. “A Growing Number of Employers Offer Juneteenth as a Paid Holiday.” Word on Benefits, 17 June 2021, https://blog.ifebp.org/juneteenth-paid-holiday/.

Schiavo, Amanda. “Employers Consider Making Juneteenth a Paid Holiday as Employees Demand Action on DEI Efforts.” Employee Benefit News, Employee Benefit News, 16 June 2021, https://www.benefitnews.com/news/employers-consider-making-juneteenth-a-paid-holiday-as-employees-demand-action-on-deiefforts#:~:text=Currently%2C%20just%208%25%20of%20employers,Foundation%20of%20Employee%20Benefit%20Plans.

MEET DAVE MOBILE WORKFORCE CENTER DRIVER/FACILITATOR, CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL RESUME WRITER, & CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL CAREER COACH

Dave N. has been an employee of the Workforce Services Division for many years and is most recognized as the facilitator and driver of our Mobile Workforce Center (MWC)! He is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and Career Coach, certified by PARWCC services. With this certification, Dave can assist job seekers in developing their resumes and finding their new career path!

Born and raised in Joliet, IL, Dave attended Joliet West High School. Following his graduation, he worked in the banking industry for eight years, moving from a teller to a teller supervisor. After his time in banking, Dave worked as a press operator at a local print shop for over 21 years until they closed, leaving Dave unemployed. During his unemployment, Dave began using the services provided by the Workforce Services Division of Will County.

Dave enjoys interacting and assisting customers and job seekers, with his main goal being to aid them in their job search and produce excellent outcomes.

Dave applied for a career scholarship with Workforce Services Division and enrolled in truck driving school to receive his CDL license. The day he received his CDL license, he was offered a job with Workforce Services as our Driver/Facilitator!

If you're looking for assistance in developing your resume in the Will County area, find our upcoming stops on the next page. >>

DID YOU KNOW?

Dave likes to spend time with friends and family in his spare time. He also plays volleyball in a recreational league!

Workforce Services has had a Mobile Workforce Center for over 18 years!

JUNE SCHEDULE FOR

MOBILE WORKFORCE CENTER Plainfield Public Library 15025 South Illinois Street Plainfield Thursday, 6/2 9:30 am – 12:00 pm Fountaindale Public Library 300 W Briarcliff Road Bolingbrook Thursday, 6/2 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm Steger Public Library 54 E 31st Street Steger Tuesday, 6/7 9:30 am -12:00 pm Crete Public Library 1177 Main Street Crete Tuesday, 6/7 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm Joliet Junior College, City Center 235 North Chicago Street Joliet Thursday, 6/9 9:30 am – 12 pm & 1 pm – 3:30 pm

Frankfort Public Library 21119 S. Pfeiffer Road Frankfort Tuesday, 6/14 9:30 am – 12:00 pm Mokena Community Public Library 11327 West 195th Street Mokena Tuesday, 6/14 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm Wilmington Public Library 201 S. Kankakee Street Wilmington Thursday, 6/16 9:30 am - 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm New Lenox Public Library 120 Veteran's Parkway New Lenox Tuesday, 6/21 9:30 am - 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm -3:30 pm

JUNE SCHEDULE FOR

SPECIAL EVENTS

ASG Staffing @ Saratoga Foods

771 W Crossroads Pkwy, Bolingbrook Wednesday, 6/1 9:00 am - 1:00 pm FedEx Ground Hiring Event 8965 W 187th Street, Mokena Saturday, 6/18 10:00 am - 12:00 pm FedEx Ground Hiring Event 145 S. Pinnacle Drive, Romeoville Saturday, 6/25 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

DID YOU KNOW? Our MWC can be requested for special events! Visit https://www.jobs4people.org/new-service-mwc/ for more info!

DEICORNER

72%

Celebrating

PRIDE MONTH

A guide to pride and pronoun usage in the workplace M. Glomb

of allies say that the are more likely to accept a job for an LGBTQ+ inclusive company

65%

of respondents in a survey agree that employers should intervene when an employee regularly misuses a co-worker’s pronouns or chosen name.

The month of June brings the celebration of Pride Month, a month long observance to honor the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. In 1969, the Stonewall Uprising served as a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the US. Pride Month has grown from being celebrated one day out of June, (the last Sunday of the month), but grew to encompass and include different events. Today, we see parades, picnics, workshops, and more, with millions participating around the country. Memorials are also held for LGBTQIA+ community members who have passed from hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of Pride Month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other community members have had on history at local, national, and international levels. Workplaces and employers continue to strive for a more equitable workplace, celebrating diversity and inclusion to create positive work cultures. Many organizations have developed policies to increase inclusivity, including healthcare coverage and paid parental leave for same-sex couples or adoptive parents.

The topic of pronoun usage in the workplace continues to be at the forefront of the workforce, and employers are looking for guidance, using consultants and advocacy groups to learn more. Like most new processes, there can be a learning curve.

So, what are pronouns, and why do they matter so much?

Pronouns are a linguistic tool we use to refer to or identify people. Determining one's pronouns is part of the coming out process for many individuals, as they shape their identities in and out of the workplace. Examples of pronouns could include "he/him/his", "she/her/hers", "they/them/theirs, "zie/ziem/zers", or any other combination of pronouns. For some queer, non-binary, transgender, and even gender non-conforming individuals, using incorrect pronouns can be hurtful or offensive, cause dysphoria, or even put the individual in physical danger. It would be best never to assume what pronouns a person uses. If you're unsure, ask! Refusing to use a coworker's gender pronouns does not encourage diversity or equality in the workplace.

According to Out and Equal (Gelpi et al., 2020), gender-affirmative support can have a powerful, if not lifesaving, impact. Their studies explain that "In the workplace, for example, transgender individuals with supportive coworkers and work environments demonstrate lower rates of suicide thoughts and attempts in recent studies (Herman, Brown & Haas, 2019). Furthermore, studies also show that gender-affirmative support can also reduce depression, improve self-esteem, and create a better quality of life for transgender/GNC individuals (Temkin & Vega, 2020). "

Gender Pronoun Examples and How to Use Them In the workplace, or even in everyday life, you may run into various individuals using pronouns. Different pronouns you may encounter include: He/Him/His She/Her/Hers They/Them/Theirs Ze/Zim/Zers No pronouns for me!

Name Only Any combination of those above.

PRONOUNS IN THE WORKPLACE How Do I Ask Someone their Pronouns? What if I Mess Up?

*This list is by no means all inclusive, and a variety of different pronouns exist.

Using Gender Neutral Language Practice makes perfect. Use gender-neutral terms, especially when addressing groups of people at time.

Examples of gender-neutral language when speaking to groups include: Y'all All of you All Valued Guests Folks Team Everyone Friends (my personal favorite)

You can ask someone's pronouns as part of an introduction or icebreaker in the workplace. You could say, "Tell us your name, your role, and if you're comfortable, your gender pronouns," or ask, "Can you remind me of which pronouns you use for yourself?"

People make mistakes. Misgendering happens when you refer to someone with a pronoun that does not align with their gender identity, which happens more often in verbal interactions than in written.

If you realize you have misgendered someone in the moment, correct yourself. Apologize and state their correct pronoun.

If you realize after the fact, apologize to them in private, and do not keep apologizing. This can make the person feel like a burden, awkward, or that they should comfort you for being true to themselves.

Educate

Promote Inclusion in Your Work-Life There are multiple ways to promote inclusion for the LGBTQIA+ community in the workplace. Many companies give employees the option to include their pronouns in their email signatures. It serves as an internal reminder and can build awareness externally as well. Other places to display personal pronouns include staff bios, name tags, business cards, social media profiles, etc.

LinkedIn and Zoom have also added the option to place pronouns on their profile.

Being enthusiastic is nothing without being educated. To learn more about pronoun usage or Pride Month, visit the following websites: https://myworkplacehealth.com/gender-andpronouns-in-the-workplace/ https://outandequal.org/ https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/about/ https://www.mypronouns.org/

90% of transgender workers have experienced harrassment or mistreatment at work

Research consistently demonstrates that LGBTQ-inclusive workplace environments generate increased performance, productivity, retention, talent, and well-being

1 in 3 adults (ages 18-29) know someone who uses genderneutral pronouns

Sources Gelpi, Madelyn, et al. “Best Practices for Non-Binary Inclusion in the Workplace - Out & Equal.” Outandequal.org, Out & Equal, May 2020, OE-Non-Binary-Best-Practices-Final.pdf (outandequal.org) Gelpi, Madelyn, et al. “What's Your Pronoun? - Out & Equal.” Outandequal.org, Out & Equal, May 2020, https://outandequal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Pronouns-Guide.pdf.

Temkin, D., & Vega, C. (2020, April 9). Research Shows the Risk of Misgendering Transgender Youth. Retrieved from https://www.childtrends.org/research-shows-the-risk-of-misgendering-transgender-youth Herman, J. L., Brown, T. N. T., & Haas, A. P. (2019). Suicide Thoughts and Attempts Among Transgender Adults (pp. 1–36). The Williams Institute.

“Gender & Pronouns in the Workplace.” MyWorkplaceHealth.com, My Workplace Health, 25 Mar. 2021, https://myworkplacehealth.com/gender-and-pronouns-in-the-workplace/.

"I'm Anthony Thompson, I was born and raised in Joliet IL. I come from a two parent home and have four brothers. I did very well in school and was active in sports. I was Introduced to drugs at the age of sixteen. ( marijuana and alcohol ). As I got older I started experimenting with cocaine and other substances. At that time in my life I had a major sports injury which caused a lot of pain and emotional distress.

As my drug use increased so did my trouble with the law. This led to treatment centers and prison.

Now that I have been abstinent from all substances I have found a new way to live. In that new way of life I have found a passion to help other addicts by being a recovery coach.

This

is

my

way

of

helping

them

better

themselves with resources and other avenues I can provide."

SUCCESSSTORIES Will County Office of Substance Use Initiative:

The Will County Executive Office of Substance Use Initiatives supports the prevention, harm reduction and recovery services for the citizens of Will County affected by the opioid epidemic.

"My name is Conrad Hardeman; I am 70 year old husband of 37 years, father of 5 (one girl and four boys), Grandfather of 5, great Grandfather of 7, and a Great Great Grandfather of 1. I’m retired now but I worked for Caterpillar, GM, and Chrysler. I’m a Vice President of the Parkwood Neighborhood Council. I’ve been a resident of Joliet (Will County) for 30 years and a home owner for 21.

I have been in recovery (clean) for 29 years and in that time I volunteered to carry the message of recovery of 6 years in Statesville Prison, I have served throughout the service structure of the fellowship I belong to. I strive to carry a message of hope to the sick and suffering addict. I can think of no better way of doing that than becoming a Peer Support Specialist (Recovery Coach)."

SUCCESSSTORIES Will County Office of Substance Use Initiative:

The Will County Executive Office of Substance Use Initiatives supports the prevention, harm reduction and recovery services for the citizens of Will County affected by the opioid epidemic.

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