Leadership Community

Evanston

Mayor’s Employer Advisory Council (MEAC) is a voluntary organization chartered in April 2018 and launched in June 2018. It was conceived by the Mayor of the City of Evanston as a way to bring local employers and the local high school into closer alignment. The goal is to develop career pathways with local employers for local high school students and to enable the students to stay in Evanston after high school graduation. Since the launch, the focus has broadened to include young people up to the age of 25 who have graduated but have not found their career pathway.

Lead Intermediary Organization

Mayor’s Employer Advisory Council

Regional Focus

Boundary of School District 202 (Evanston and part of the City of Skokie)

Areas of Expertise

MEAC has 133 members including:

  • 51 employers covering all focused sectors
  • 6 education organizations including Oakton Community College
  • 10 local not-for-profit organizations
  • The City of Evanston
  • 4 local and state politicians

Prioritized Focus Areas

  • Construction
  • Culinary Arts
  • Health Sciences
  • IT/Cyber Security
  • Manufacturing

Key Successes

  • Hired full-time Career Partnership Manager who is located inside Evanston Township High School to support counselors, teachers, and administration.
  • Initiated Career Focus Month, which brings MEAC members into the school to promote career understanding in their sectors.
  • Expanded MEAC membership.
  • 2020 iKit Summer Internship Program for 18 Class of 2020 ETHS graduates.

2-Year Goals

  • Expand dual credit with Oakton Community College.
  • Provide job shadowing leading to paid internships.
  • Continue implementation of Career Focus Month.
  • Continue to expand MEAC membership and increase active participation in MEAC-sponsored activities.
  • Secure long-term funding for Career Partnership Manager position.

Community Updates

Evanston’s Job Shadow Program Doubles

This year, 56 students are participating, with 20 employers hosting students, doubling the participation from last year for both students and employers.

2022 Work-Based Learning in Evanston

MEAC, in partnership with Evanston Township High School (ETHS) is currently recruiting students and employers for the iKit Spring Job Shadow Program and the iKit

MEAC: Growing Summer Internships

The Evanston iKit Summer Internship Program featuring twelve-week paid internships has kicked off with sixteen interns going into local employer locations starting in mid-June. Three