On October 20, 2021, Illinois workforce partners are celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness month with the Identity and Innovation Summit. This free virtual summit focuses on recruitment, hiring, and retention of disabled workers who identify as transgender or non-gender confirming and/or people living with HIV. Following a welcome from Governor Pritzker, this all-day event will showcase local and national experts and stakeholders covering three key areas of policy, practice, and professional development as they relate to working with these underserved communities. Within the day there will be opportunities for robust discussions and networking to address the need for professional development of employers and workforce organizations so that all people's skills and talents are fully included throughout Illinois.

Learn more, view the draft agenda, and register here.

xxxxxxNovember 3, 2021 8:30 am - 12:00 pm CST

Learn more about the 2021 Transitions Academy and register here.

Despite a last minute shift from hybrid to all online, the 2021 Forum for Excellence - Through the Equity Lens was an unqualified hit! Over 800 participants attended sessions covering a variety of topics, with a strong focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

ICSPS is in the process of posting all the session recordings for everyone to view, but two inspiring sessions related to equity are online and ready to view.

Deadline - January 28, 2022. Submit your presentation here.

Did you know that with over 18,000 companies employing over 555,000 Illinoisans, Illinois is the fourth largest manufacturing state in the country? To celebrate present and future manufacturers in Illinois, DCEO, the Offices of Regional Economic Development, and Minority Economic Empowerment have partnered with the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center to host a series of webinars and events throughout October.

Learn more about Manufacturing Month here.

The Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE) will present virtual events featuring business resources, important topics, and spotlights of women-owned businesses, showcasing our commitment to growing and investing in women-owned businesses statewide. Learn more and sign up for virtual events here.

The USDOL Office of Disability Employment Policy has developed a wide range of ideas and resources to help you celebrate and generate awareness of the importance of ensuring people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement. Whether you're an educator, employer, or a member of an association or union - USDOL has a customized strategy to support you in your efforts to ensure people with disabilities have equal access to employment opportunities. Download the 2021 poster .

National Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins each year on September 15, celebrates U.S. Latinos, their culture and their history. Started in 1968 by Congress as Hispanic Heritage Week, it was expanded to a month in 1988. The celebration begins in the middle rather than the start of September because it coincides with national independence days in several Latin American countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica celebrate theirs on September 15, followed by Mexico on September 16, Chile on September 18 and Belize on September 21.

Learn more key facts about the nation's Latino population.

UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Establishing a Common Language: Communication and Outreach Strategies for Working with Students Experiencing Homelessness - October 18, 2021 at 1:00 - 2:00 pm

Learn more about this webinar and register here.

Better Together: Establishing Community Partnerships to Provide Services to Students Experiencing Homelessness - November 10, 2021 at 10:00 - 11:00 am

Learn more about this webinar and register here.

Did you miss the first webinar in this series - Laws & Policies for Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness? Watch the recording here.