Governor Pritzker’s recent passing of the Education and Workforce Equity Act highlighted the crucial need for early childhood workers across Illinois. Those at It Takes A Village Family of Schools, however, have been long aware of the growing need for providers, and are now partnering to launch an innovative solution. Beginning May 1, Chicago’s Early Learning Head Start Delegate Agency, It Takes A Village Family of Schools (ITAV), and Illinois State Representative, La Shawn K. Ford, will partner to address this challenge through a new Early Childhood Workforce Program for Chicago youth. ITAV’s ECW Program has thus far served five cohorts of future educators, and this will be the first to serve youth between the ages of 16 – 24 over the summer. Those who participate in the program will earn state credentials and work towards the national Child Development Associate’s (CDA) credential, as well as will receive a paid apprenticeship at an ITAV early learning worksite in Chicago. Open enrollment will begin May 1, and the cohort will take place during summer break. Those interested in signing up or learning more can visit www.itavschools.org or email Makeya Kelly, ECW Counselor, at makeya@itavschools.org.