Employer community of practice

parkland workforce collaborative (PWC)

Our Mission

The mission of our monthly workshop in Workforce Development is to shed light on the current climate of the modern workforce, and how we can both adapt to and learn from our work community to have a high quality work environment. 

Visit the Community of Practice page to see all future sessions.

February 2025

In the February workshop, we were joined by Cassandra Dunham from the Regional Planning Commission and Madeleine Wolske from the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) who shared about how their programs support employees and employers in Champaign County. 

In the first half of the video, Cassandra Dunham discusses the Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Grant, which helps businesses train and upskill employees to retain jobs, advance in their roles, or prevent layoffs in industries like Manufacturing, Healthcare, Logistics, Construction, Ag Tech, and Business Services. She outlines key aspects of the grant, including costs, purpose, evaluation criteria, reimbursement processes, and monitoring requirements

In the second half of the video, Madeleine Wolske from the SBDC shares how the organization provides no-cost services to small business owners, helping them start, grow, hire and train employees, and expand their businesses, while also offering partnerships, marketing resources, and additional support services.

February Resources:

Incumbent Worker Training:

Incumbent Worker Training PDF

Small Business Development Center:

SBDC slide deck

January 2025

In the January workshop, the Collaborative's Aimee Densmore discussed how different generations view and show up in the workforce. 

The modern workforce is a mix of Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, each with distinct values and priorities. While Baby Boomers value structure and loyalty, Gen X emphasizes work-life balance and entrepreneurial thinking, Millennials focus on collaboration and social impact, and Gen Z seeks purpose, unique experiences, and personalization. 

With more career opportunities than ever, these differences shape workplace culture and expectations. Bridging generational gaps requires adaptability, mentorship, and a commitment to evolving workforce needs. Learn more by watching the video below.