Community Connections Expo offers workshops for JTHS student service hours

The Community Connections Expo will be held on October 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Joliet Central High School. The event is open to the public and welcomes people of all ages. Joliet Township High School (JTHS) students who attend one of the interactive workshops can earn two community service hours.

Attendees will have access to a job fair, community resource tables, food vendors, and musical entertainment by the Joliet Central Band. Free childcare is provided for children who are preschool-aged and older, with the requirement that all children must be potty-trained.

Workshops will run from 6 to 7 p.m., focusing on college and career readiness topics. “Booked & Ready: Resume Building & Career Readiness,” presented by Junior Achievement, aims to help high school students develop skills for future jobs or internships. Another session, “Brand Like a Boss: Digital Tools to Land that Internship or Job,” covers how students can improve their online presence and prepare for interviews.

A panel discussion titled “Trades in Action: Build Your Future” introduces students to local union trades careers, while Spanish interpretation is available. Financial aid information will be covered in “Show Me the Money: FAFSA & Financial Aid Made Simple.” The “Inside Admissions: What Colleges Really Want” workshop provides advice for first-generation and income-eligible students.

For Spanish-speaking families, the Alianza de Familias Council (BPAC) Meeting presents information about financial aid and career planning linked with culinary arts education.

Over 30 employers are participating in the job fair, including local businesses such as Abri Credit Union, Healthcare Plus, Illinois Department of Corrections, Pace Suburban Bus, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Walgreens, Will County Regional Office of Education and others.

More than 60 organizations will offer resources at community tables. These include American Red Cross, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet, Governors State University, NAACP Joliet Branch and several government offices.

Entry points include Door G or J off Eastern Avenue with parking in Lots A-C; or Door F off Herkimer Street with parking in Lots D-E. All guests must pass through security upon entry.

Joliet West High School serves grades nine through twelve in Joliet and Will County with an enrollment of over 3,300 students during the 2019-2020 school year according to the Illinois Report Card https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/. Grade nine had the highest concentration at 27.3 percent https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/, followed by grade twelve at 26.1 percent https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/, grade eleven at 25.1 percent https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/, and grade ten at 24.7 percent https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/. The student body was made up of approximately 34.9 percent white students, 21.2 percent black students, 39 percent Hispanic students and 1.7 percent Asian students during that period https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.

Organizers hope attendees will use this opportunity to connect with local services and gain practical information about college and career paths.