We’re excited to invite you to YJC’s third annual panel discussion, where workforce development leaders will explore the evolving landscape of youth employment in Chicago. Please join us for what promises to be a stimulating, inspiring discussion, and spread the word to any friends, family members, or colleagues who would benefit from attending!

Please RSVP: Email events@youthjobcenter.org to let us know if you plan to attend.

Schedule:

• 10:30 a.m. — Networking and opportunity to meet the panelists

• 11:00 a.m – 12:00 p.m. — Panel discussion

Cost: Free

Parking: Park in the Lincoln parking lot and enter through door 21. Click here for a helpful map.

Moderator: Lucretzia M. Jamison, MBA (Executive Director, Youth Job Center)

Panelists:

• Valerie Garcia (One Million Degrees)

  • Valerie Garcia serves as the volunteer engagement coordinator at One Million Degrees, where she leads the onboarding, training, and engagement of volunteers who support City Colleges of Chicago students as they prepare to enter and thrive in the workforce. In her role, Valerie builds strong partnerships with industry professionals and community members, ensuring scholars have access to the mentorship, networks, and real‑world insights that fuel career success.

    With a background in community engagement and nonprofit program and operations, Valerie brings a thoughtful, relationship‑driven approach to creating environments where learners feel empowered to explore career pathways and build the skills that employers value.

    A life‑long Chicagoan, Valerie is deeply passionate about supporting Chicago's next generation in reaching their fullest potential. Her work reflects a steadfast commitment to educational equity, workforce opportunity, and the belief that when communities invest in young people, everyone benefits.

• Nathan Norman (Oakton College)

  • Nathan Norman is one of the prominent young leaders in the Chicagoland area. He is a proud graduate of Oakton College and Northwestern University, where he earned his master’s degree in public policy and administration.

    With a career spanning over a decade, Nathan has carved a path of impact and innovation in public service. Previously at the City of Evanston, he orchestrated dynamic workforce development initiatives, laying the groundwork for countless individuals to secure training and gain access to meaningful employment opportunities.

    Nathan also served as an ambassador for Oakton’s Emory Williams Academy for Black Men and was honored as an Oakton College Distinguished Alumnus in 2023. He currently serves on the Oakton Alumni Council. Passionate about economic vitality, youth advocacy, public service, reducing recidivism, and helping system-impacted individuals reach their full potential, Nathan has dedicated his professional career to advancing the public’s interest.

    Currently, Nathan serves as the senior director of workforce development at Oakton College, where he spearheads innovative workforce development initiatives that support economic vitality across Oakton's district. His leadership in this pivotal role epitomizes his commitment to effect positive change and enhance economic mobility.

• NuDonna Williams (Youth Job Center)

  • NuDonna Williams is a transformative leader dedicated to redefining what is possible for the next generation of the workforce. As the director of programs at Youth Job Center, she leads with the belief that a career is not a straight line but a dynamic journey of discovery.

    NuDonna’s professional path is defined by adaptability and service. A proud alumna of Hyde Park Career Academy, she began her journey in the military, where she initially trained in the medical field. That experience became a vital pivot point—teaching her that true career satisfaction is found at the intersection of purpose and passion. Fueled by a commitment to community impact, she transitioned into the nonprofit sector, where she balanced raising a family with earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Chicago State University.

    From creating foundational programs like "Baby’s First" to serving as a dedicated community connector, NuDonna has spent her career bridging the gap between potential and opportunity. Since joining Youth Job Center in 2018, she has been a driving force in scaling its career pathways program, helping young adults dismantle barriers and navigate the complexities of the modern economy.

    Beyond her local impact, NuDonna now serves as a mentor within the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP), where she can help shape the next generation of workforce leaders. She remains a champion for those she serves, teaching them that staying curious is the ultimate professional superpower.

• Julia Willis (Triton College)

  • Julia Willis is the dean of students at Triton College, where she provides strategic leadership for student services, support initiatives, and campus-wide programs that help students succeed academically and professionally. In her role, she oversees counseling and wellness support, student life, behavioral intervention efforts, and Title IX coordination, all of which are central to creating inclusive learning environments that support diverse student populations.

    Julia brings extensive experience in educational program management and student support, with a career spanning roles in student services, academic support initiatives, and workforce-focused programming. Prior to her current position, she coordinated initiatives such as TRiO Upward Bound and worked with community and educational organizations focused on bridging academic achievement and workforce pathways for youth and underrepresented learners.

    Known for her commitment to empowering students through holistic support and access to opportunities, Julia’s work emphasizes the importance of connecting education with meaningful career outcomes, making her insights particularly valuable in discussions about youth workforce trends and the evolving landscape of post-secondary success.

• The Trade Collective

  • The Trade Collective is an Evanston nonprofit formed in 2024 to connect Evanston Township High School students to the skilled trades. It shines a light on the many promising career pathways that are available to young people and that do not require a college degree.

    The Trade Collective is in the process of creating “Collectives” in select industry sectors that offer rich career opportunities and for which local education and training is possible. The Collectives they’re building include manufacturing, plumbing, automotive, electrical, aviation, HVAC, and many more. They’re working with local businesses and industry leaders to identify and aggregate the collective hiring needs, along with the educational and training requirements, of each sector. This information is powerful, and helps inform educational partners—and the students of tomorrow’s workforce—where promising opportunities lie. And The Trade Collective is forming partnerships with high schools, colleges, and universities, sharing insights with them to ensure that their curricula align with the real demands of the market.