Gordon-Booth Highlights Workforce Equity Initiative Information Sessions

PEORIA, Ill. – State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, is encouraging local residents to attend upcoming information sessions about the Workforce Equity Initiative, a statewide project that she negotiated to improve workforce inclusivity and wages for underrepresented populations in career and technical education programs and jobs where employers report a lack of available skilled workers.

“The modern workforce is demanding highly-skilled workers for jobs in a variety of industries including health care, manufacturing and technology. However, too many people in our local community have been left behind as the workforce shifts,” Gordon-Booth said. “The Workforce Equity Initiative is chance to help build a stronger middle class and move our community forward by providing the opportunity for a living wage in fields where there aren’t enough workers.”

The Workforce Equity Initiative, spearheaded by Gordon-Booth and the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, is a partnership of the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), community colleges across the state and is led by Illinois Central College (ICC) in order to increase workforce skills and boost the economies of African American populations who are underrepresented in fields where employers report a shortage of skilled workers. The program will train participants in a variety of high-need skillsets by partnering with regional employers for occupations including computer network administrators, emergency medical technicians, machinists, nurses and welders.

ICC is hosting multiple information sessions on the initiative on Wednesday, October 23 at its Peoria campus. The informational session times are 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm. ICC’s Peoria campus is located at 5407 N. University Street and sessions will take place in Student Center Room S220.

“This transformative initiative is being built and targeted directly at people in our community who have been too often left behind in career and technical training, particularly in African American communities,” Gordon-Booth said. “I encourage everyone who is underemployed, unemployed or is seeking a secure full-time career to attend an information session hosted by ICC in order to learn about the opportunities available for improved livelihoods in our community.”