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.

June 2025

In our June workshop, Sadie Taylor Paige, Principal Consultant with Illiana Consulting Group discussed multiple avenues to improve the human working experience. Our discussion revolved around what we do, and how we can better understand and manage processes in a way that supports people in the workplace. Tune in to the video below for more of Sadie and our collaborative's insights.

Please join us for our upcoming Parkland Workforce Collaborative  online at 11 am central time on July 17, 2025. 

May 2025

Our May workshop featured our speaker Alicia Beck, Parkland's senior director for workforce development. Alicia presented on the topic of Managing Gen Z; sharing ways in which generations can collaborate more efficiently and empathetically in the workplace. This discussion presented ways of understanding Gen Z, managing generational gaps, exploring modes of communication, growth opportunities, overall community, and more.

April 2025

Our in-person April workshop featured Marc Changnon, CobraVenture Coordinator and seasoned coach with years of experience supporting students in both life and career development. One of Marc's guiding principles— “How you do anything is how you do everything”—was a key point as he led an engaging session focused on helping students navigate their future paths with purpose and confidence.

He walked attendees through the career decision-making process, offering a step-by-step approach that both mentors and mentees can apply. Marc also introduced the Five Pillars of Success, a helpful framework for defining and achieving personal success.

The discussion covered essential traits of successful individuals—think time management, learning from failure, strong communication, and thoughtful preparation. Marc emphasized how critical these skills are for both those seeking direction and those offering support.

Note: This session was not recorded as it was in person.

Questions or want to learn more? Reach out to Marc Changnon at mchangnon@parkland.edu or 217-493-3788.

April Resources:

March 2025

In the March workshop, Taylor Black presents the AI for Beginners, covering practical AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity while teaching effective prompting techniques. With AI being so prevalent in the workplace nowadays, the importance of AI fluency has increased as well. Taylor Black explores how AI can improve writing, productivity, research, and decision-making in a way that is easy to understand. 

March Resources:

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.