Align4edu

Alignment Collaborative for Education - ACE

Archives for May 2020

Alignment Hosts College Panels for U-46 Juniors and Seniors

Elgin Community College, Judson University, Northern University and Roosevelt University joined Alignment to provide a live introduction to the admissions and college search process.  Each institution’s admissions representative shared:

  • The admission requirements for their institution to include GPA requirements, standardized test scores, and placement testing.
  • Sources of financial aid and scholarship funding available to freshmen students.
  • The institution’s programs of study and how to access more specific information about individual programs.
  • Critical dates within the academic calendar for admissions, financial aid and scholarship applications.
  • Best advice to students participating in the college search and decision process.

Students were then given the opportunity to ask individual questions on an assortment of topics. Feedback from students, high school counselors and the admissions representatives was overwhelmingly positive with plans to implement virtual college panels in all U-46 high schools in the fall.

Dream Academy, Larkin and Streamwood graduating seniors also benefited from a Virtual, ZOOM experience of the ECC Admissions Office meeting multiple ECC representatives.  The step by step workshop covered all necessary requirements to enter ECC in August to include the application process, placement testing, advising, financial aid, apprenticeships, and college work study programs.  Students had the opportunity to ask multiple questions to help clarify the college admission process.  Thank you to ECC and our partner universities for sharing their time and expertise with our U-46 students!

Alignment Partners with Gail Borden Public Library to Offer Resume and Interviewing Skills Workshop

Alignment and Gail Borden Public Library (GBPL) partnered to provide students with work-based learning skills to include resume preparation and interviewing skills assistance.  Billie Moffitt, coordinator of GBPL’s Teen Center, led students in discussion of application tips, resume styles, often asked interview questions, etc.  Students were eager to learn where to find employment within the community and tips on how to acquire that information.  Alignment also offered interested students the opportunity to have their resumes reviewed and edited by local human resources partners within the Alignment Collaborative and also through Junior Achievement.  Thank you to Billie and GBPL for leading this workshop!

Alignment Partners with EPEL and Gail Borden Public Library to Provide Trauma Informed Care Training to Early Education Professionals

Over 80 early education professionals and community advocates participated in Alignment’s first ZOOM broadcast of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Interface Training through a partnership with the Elgin Partnership for Early Learning and Gail Borden Public Library.  The goal was to attract as many early education providers currently in a stay at home status.  Through a generous grant provided by Grand Victoria Foundation, early education providers that were currently in a furloughed status from their centers received a $50 stipend for completing the 2.5 hour training. The training conducted on May 12th was scheduled to help promote Trauma Informed Care Day across the community celebrated on May 15th. 

 In preparation for the school year to begin in the fall,  Alignment is committed to training staff from community organizations that provide services to early learners, elementary, middle and high school students.  When asked why this is an important piece of Alignment’s mission, Nancy Coleman, executive director, responded “Given the trauma associated with COVID 19, our entire community will be better equipped to help our community’s children and youth by activating a trauma informed care culture.”