New Arrivals Training: Helping New Arrivals Access Workforce Development
On August 15, scaleLIT hosted the August Learning Circle, a cross-training panel focused on Helping New Arrivals Access Workforce Development. ScaleLIT has been at the forefront of the response to the recent influx of New Arrivals in Chicago, and several Career Pathways Navigators have fulfilled the crucial role of connecting New Arrivals attending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Workshops to the public workforce system.
Renuka Sharma, Senior Manager of Community Engagement, has facilitated InService Learning Circles since November 2022. This August, Renuka invited Navigators and several other partners who had first-hand experience working with New Arrivals as they get their footing - transitioning into shelters or more long-term housing, securing work authorization, and exploring employment opportunities or education - to shed some light on ways to better support and integrate with this community.
The New Arrivals Training Panel, moderated by Chana Sternberg, Program Manager at The Resurrection Project, included:
Fernando Villeda Flamenco, Transition Specialist for City Colleges of Chicago at Truman College
Clelia Gomez, Director of Central States SER/SERCO Inc.
Awilda Gonzalez, Program Director for WIOA Programs at National Able Network
William Paul Mijares, QUEST Team Associate at National Able Network
Gabriel Perez, Career Pathways Navigator & Special Projects at scaleLIT
Germania Solorzano, Career Pathways Navigator at scaleLIT
Roxanne Garcia, Career Pathways Navigator at scaleLIT
We’ve included resources for those working with New Arrivals below.
If you engage with New Arrivals — with or without work authorization — connect them to their nearest American Job Center or a Career Pathways Navigator.
Refer to the Language Support for Migrants Toolkit, designed to guide educators in providing language support for migrants.
Familiarize yourself with information on WelcometoIL and A Welcoming City: Chicago’s New Arrivals web pages.
Sign up for a daily email with Media Clips of Chicago Asylum Seekers, Migrants, and Immigrants.
Please contact Renuka Sharma with any questions or if you have additional New Arrivals Resources to share!
