September LWIA 7 Workforce System Partner Meeting Recap
One-Stop Operator Updates
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the September 2026 LWIA 7 Workforce System Partner Meeting. scaleLIT, as the One-Stop Operator (OSO) serving Local Workforce Innovation Area (LWIA) 7 through the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, hosts these quarterly gatherings to strengthen coordination, share updates, and create opportunities for partners across the American Job Center network to learn from one another.
This quarter’s gathering took place at Arturo Velazquez Institute and brought adult education and workforce partners together for Co-Enrollment as Advocacy, a conversation about how stronger coordination across programs can create more connected pathways to education, training, employment, and supportive services.
Claudia Regalado, Director of Relationship Management Programs at the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, welcomed partners to the gathering before the OSO team shared quarterly updates and opened the day's cross-training conversation.
September Quarterly Update
The September 2026 Quarterly Update reflects activity from Program Year 2026 Quarter 4, April 1–June 30, 2026, and highlights continued work to strengthen service integration across Chicago and suburban Cook County.
During the quarter, the OSO team continued center-level partner meetings and technical assistance at the four Comprehensive AJCs, while supporting partner communication, cross-training, customer feedback, referral coordination, business services, and AJC orientation resources.
A few highlights from the report include:
381 partners are now part of the LWIA 7 Workforce System Partner Space in Disco, including 28 additional partners who joined during the quarter.
More than 1,000 onsite and 200 workshop customer surveys were collected during the quarter. Onsite services received a 4.84/5 satisfaction rating and 9.57/10 Net Promoter Score.
The Airtable referral system recorded 15,000+ referrals during PY26, including approximately 2,700 during Quarter 4.
Airtable now connects referral activity across 70+ LWIA 7 organizations and agencies, while the OSO team continues supporting the transition to the IWDS 2.0 Universal Referral System.
Through The Partnership's LevelUP AJC campaign, more than 8,300 career seekers and 75 employers had used the platform to connect with an AJC as of September.
Cross-Training Spotlight: Co-Enrollment as Advocacy
Adult education and workforce development share a common goal: helping people access the skills, resources, and opportunities they need to move forward.
During the September gathering, partners explored how co-enrollment and stronger coordination across programs can help create more connected pathways for people navigating education, workforce services, training, employment, and supportive resources.
The conversation was moderated by Michael Matos, Director of Community Learning at scaleLIT, and featured perspectives from:
Luis Narváez, Vice Chancellor of Adult Education, City Colleges of Chicago
Matt Weis, President & CEO, National Able Network
Raylynn Stokes, MS, Director, Adult Education Program, South Suburban College
Pictured, from left to right: Becky Raymond, Matt Weis, Raylynn Stokes, Luis Narváez, and Claudia Regalado.
Throughout the discussion, the panelists shared concrete examples of how their organizations are connecting participants with resources and opportunities beyond a single program.
Matt Weis discussed National Able Network’s SNAP to Success program and how leveraging a different funding model can expand the resources available to participants. The example generated particular interest from the audience and opened up conversation about how programs can think creatively about funding and service coordination.
Raylynn Stokes shared South Suburban College’s holistic approach to working with students, highlighting the importance of the intake process in identifying needs and connecting students with additional services and resources for which they may be eligible. Her example reinforced how the initial point of contact can become an opportunity to look beyond one immediate need and connect students to broader support.
Luis Narváez highlighted City Colleges of Chicago’s Gateway Scholarship, which can cover half of tuition for up to four semesters as eligible students work toward completing an associate degree. The example demonstrated another way adult education can connect to longer-term education and career pathways.
Together, the examples reinforced a central theme of the conversation: co-enrollment is not simply about participation in multiple programs. It is about intentionally making connections across programs so people can better access the resources and opportunities available to them.
The gathering also took place during Adult Education & Family Literacy Week, creating a timely opportunity to highlight the role adult education plays within the broader workforce ecosystem. Stronger connections between adult education and workforce programs can help ensure that people are not navigating those systems in isolation.
Recognizing Partner Excellence
Recognized for continued engagement and participation across the LWIA 7 workforce system.
★ Engagement All-Star Leader: Harper College
Recognized for continued engagement and participation across the LWIA 7 workforce system.
★ Survey All-Star: National Able Network at AJC in Pilsen
75 workshop surveys
9.31/10 Net Promoter Score
★ System Collaboration Champions: City Colleges of Chicago & Area Planning Council 508
Recognized for their partnership and collaboration across the workforce and adult education systems.
Thank you to our partners across the American Job Center network for helping strengthen service delivery, collaboration, and customer experience throughout LWIA 7.
Resources and Materials: Access the Quarterly Update
The September 2026 Systemwide Update brochure, including detailed metrics, resources, and partner tools, is available for partners to review and download. All quarterly materials are also available through Disco, the LWIA 7 learning and collaboration platform.
Click here to download the presentation and review the updates shared
Stay Connected
If you have questions or would like to follow up with the OSO team, please reach out:
AJC in Wheeling: mandeep@scalelit.org
AJC in Pilsen: germania@scalelit.org
AJC at Prairie State College: candace@scalelit.org
AJC at the King Center: ema@scalelit.org
Our next LWIA 7 Workforce System Partner Meeting will be held December 4, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. If you would like to propose a topic or share other feedback for an upcoming meeting, please reach out to the OSO team.
Thank you again for your continued partnership and commitment to strengthening workforce access and opportunity across Chicago and suburban Cook County.
