Episode 38: Trees (and a Career Path) Are a Good Investment in Your Future
Hire Frequency
Interested in joining an army to take of the planet? It’s not a hard as it sounds. If you want to combine meaningful work with long-term fulfillment, working as an arborist may be for you. Plant your roots in an apprenticeship that will allow you to grow for years. Join our guests today as they discuss the Arborist Registered Apprenticeship program through Openlands in the Chicago region. For more information, visit Openlands.org.
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Episode 37: It Takes a Village to Create a Successful Internship
Hire Frequency
This episode shows the lifecycle of a successful internship. You will hear from senior level professionals who talk about their own first jobs, as well as a high school senior who is just starting out with a great apprenticeship/internship opportunity. Everyone has a story. Everyone begins somewhere. Listen to these four people tell their stories, and give advice about how to make your own dreams come true.
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Episode 36: Healthcare and Green Energy Sectors Grow Careers: You Can Find Success Without a B.A.
Hire Frequency
You can bring your whole self to work! Join workforce development leaders who work in 365 24/7 high-demand sectors! Hear them discuss how they create talent pipelines that remove barriers and in an ever changing eco-system. Don’t miss the chance to hear how local large employers are working to put successful, long-term careers in reach!
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Episode 35: What's the Fuss About Apprenticeships?
Hire Frequency
Both businesses and career seekers give apprenticeships an A+ ! Apprenticeships help businesses develop their talent within a proven model and help career-seekers ‘earn while they learn’ while on the job. The Partnership aligns its apprenticeship initiative with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Program and the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, expanding beyond traditionally known trades to promoting the model in non-traditional industries and occupations nationwide. Join us to hear from City Colleges of Chicago and a local...
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Episode 34: Exploring Our Region’s American Job Center Network This Workforce Development Month
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How is our WIOA-funded American Job Center network really doing? In this episode, we take a look from the inside out—everything from curb appeal to what it’s like to actually work with the system. Joining the conversation are Mark Sanders II, Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Services for the City of Chicago; Irene Sherr, Deputy Bureau Chief for the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development; and Becky Raymond, Executive Director of ScaleLit and Partnership One Stop Operator. Together, they talk about why it’s time to “flip the script” and focus on sector-based work with employers,...
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Episode 33: Where We Are Now and Where We Are Going: A Look at Public Workforce Systems
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September 2025 is the 20th annual Workforce Development Month. If we hold a mirror up to ourselves, how do we look? Like most of us, we see some areas where we excel and others where we can improve. Throughout September, The Partnership is streaming 4 live podcasts hosted by CEO George Wright, joined by regional and national leaders, funders and partners, to discuss today’s the public workforce systems. Whether it is working our way out of silos or focusing on designing our systems around the needs of employers, is it time to ‘hit the gym’ and get parts of our...
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Episode 32: Pathways to the Future: Building Careers in Clean Energy
Hire Frequency
The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership’s provide two training programs in the Chicago and suburban Cook County region: a Bridge Program and a Job-Specific Training Program. These programs are preparing hundreds of participants for careers as Weatherization and HVAC professionals, Solar Photovoltaic Installers, Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installers, Hybrid Auto Technicians and more. Tune into this podcast to hear how this program is changing lives every day. Hear first hand from a program graduate who is now working in this high-demand, high-growth...
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Episode 31: Hospitality Hires Chicago: Where Employers Are Ready to Hire Today
Hire Frequency
Hospitality Hires Chicago, a Partnership production, offers a truly exceptional hiring experience. If you're selecting just one employment event this year, here's why this should be your choice: You'll be matched with the ideal employer for your skills and aspirations. The event's "secret sauce" is that all participating organizations must come with open positions and be ready to hire on the spot! You won't find dead-end jobs here. Instead, discover rewarding career opportunities with competitive wages and comprehensive benefits across diverse sectors including childcare, healthcare, public...
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Episode 30: Flipping the Pyramid: A New Approach to Chicago's Community Safety
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In this episode, Chicago’s Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood joins host and CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership George Wright to discuss Chicago's innovative approach to violence reduction and its intersection with workforce development. The deputy mayor outlines his office's strategy of empowering neighborhoods to participate in sharing their priorities and thoughts in developing local safety initiatives, working block by block to address unique local needs. The conversation explores the vital link between employment and safety, showcased by a recent hiring fair...
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Episode 29: Beyond Traditional Trades: The New Face of Modern Apprenticeships
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In recognition of the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week, this episode explores the transformative power of modern apprenticeship programs through an engaging discussion with employers, apprentices, and workforce development leaders. Led by George Wright, CEO of The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, the conversation features insights from Rob Johnson of the Building Owners and Management Association of Chicago, Jennifer Charles of GCJ Hospitality Resources, and apprentices Natalie Guzman and Janira Martinez. The discussion highlights how apprenticeships have evolved beyond traditional...
info_outlineBoth businesses and career seekers give apprenticeships an A+ ! Apprenticeships help businesses develop their talent within a proven model and help career-seekers ‘earn while they learn’ while on the job. The Partnership aligns its apprenticeship initiative with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Program and the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, expanding beyond traditionally known trades to promoting the model in non-traditional industries and occupations nationwide. Join us to hear from City Colleges of Chicago and a local employer why apprenticeship isn’t just a new-fangled word for internship, but much more.