CAREER TRANSITIONS CENTER OF CHICAGO

Goals for 2022-23
1. The board of directors approved a new two-year strategic plan that includes both a strategic vision for the evolution of services and a plan to sustain CTC operations during a time when it is under pressure to serve large numbers of clients experiencing much longer job searches.
2. Provide 200 programs each year on job search topics, as well as peer support groups.
3. Serve 300 clients as well as 300 members of the community people through outreach programs.
4. Seventy percent of clients will find employment (full-time; contract; start a business) within four months of joining CTC.

Programs and Services
The overarching goal of CTC is to successfully facilitate the job searches of its un- and under-employed clients through job coaching, training, support, and fellowship. Our team of 50 career coaches volunteer their time. As a result of the pandemic, CTC is offering all programming and c one-on-one coaching, Strong Vocational Interest and EQI assessments, and workshops on resume writing, interviewing, networking, compensation negotiation and emotional resilience during an extended job search. CTC offers over 200 programs each year for its clients, sponsoring organizations, and members of the public. CTC also provides a business center with 10 workstations with computers and phones for conducting job search activities.

For the last seven years, CTC has offered Virtual Services, which combines an online career management system, Optimal Resume—that allows clients to create resumes and other communication tools, store portfolios, engage in mock video interviews from home, as well as to create their own personal website—with phone coaching to clients outside the Chicago Metro Area and the out of state alumni of sponsors such as Elmhurst University. This is a structured 12 week program, as compared to the self directed nature of in-person services at CTC.

CTC shifted to virtual delivery of services (coaching, peer support and job search skills programming) on March 11, 2020, in response to COVID-19. CTC will begin a hybrid delivery model by offering 3 days of virtual coaching and programming and two days of in person coaching and programming, in response to client surveys about the a new delivery model.

Compounding centuries of structural racism, the unemployment crisis is affecting communities of color most dramatically. A Washington Post-Ipsos poll from May 2020 showed that 16% of Black workers reported being laid off, as well as 20% of Latinx workers. At the same time, 11% of white workers and 12% of workers from other racial groups reported being laid off. Because of the massive racial wealth gap in the United States, workers of color have less savings to tide them over until they find their next job. The Brookings Institution reports that Black families have one-tenth the wealth of white families. For all who are out of work, but particularly for Black, Latinx, and Indigenous workers and other workers of color, unemployment benefits are a vital lifeline in this time of crisis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics report projects that 50% of recent college grads are now unemployed.

Programming for First Generation College Grads: CTC provides Virtual one-day Career Boot Camps via Zoom on job search skills workshops, followed by 12 weeks of individualized virtual career coaching; access to workshops, facilitates networking introductions; and provides access to job opportunities. These youth are entering the labor market during some of the highest unemployment rates in U.S. history.

With a budget of $388,000, CTC serves over 300 clients and outreaches via community workshops to serve another 300 plus people. CTC is governed by a volunteer board of 13 members and has a staff of four. Over 50 volunteers help sustain CTC's mission. These professional volunteers serve as board members, job coaches, motivational and informational speakers, computer technicians and development experts.

Over the last 12 months, CTC has served:

* 274 adult clients, 85youth and provided public programming at libraries, churches and associations serving another 330people.
* 70% of clients found employment this year.
* Retained over 50 volunteers for an average of 7 years.