Jill Biden checks out Chicago’s college-to-career program

BY EMILY MORRIS Staff Reporter?emorris@suntimes.com June 19, 2012 6:46PM

Dr. Jill Biden, center, with (from left) Coyote Logistics CEO Jeff Silver, Coyote employee Bilal Mahasneh and City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Cheryl L. Hyman at the company's Diversey Ave. headquarters to highlight Chicago?s College to Careers Initiative. | Rich Hein~Sun-Times

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Updated: June 19, 2012 10:00PM

In 2008, like 2.6 million others in the U.S., Michele Miller found herself out of a job.

Determined to get back on track, the 41-year-old health care worker enrolled full-time in community college classes. After working closely with City Colleges of Chicago staff to practice mock interviews, participate in resume workshops and attend job information sessions, Miller landed a job with Chicago-based Allscripts Heathcare Solutions Inc.

The recent graduate of Harold Washington College was one of two City Colleges of Chicago graduates to tell their stories Tuesday to Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden. Jill Biden has been touring college-to-career programs across the country since February. Biden herself has been a community college teacher for 18 years.

?It was completely magical,? Miller said about the experience. ?What came out of it, Dr. Biden, wasn?t just a job, but a career.?

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and City Colleges launched the city?s College to Careers program in December 2011 in an effort to better prepare students for jobs and address the skills gap in Chicago.

The program currently partners two of City Colleges? seven schools with local businesses and organizations that help train students to work in specialized fields.

Malcolm X College partners with health care organizations while Olive-Harvey College partners with transportation, distribution and logistics companies.

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