The Success Network Organizers are thrilled to welcome the Southern Illinois Region as our newest Leadership Community. The regional team, led by SI Now, brings expertise in employer engagement and regional convening, and we look forward to sharing their experiences with communities across the state.
“As part of SI Now’s regional approach to economic growth in the Southern Illinois region, education and workforce development emerged as one of our top three priority areas,” says SI Now Executive Director Deb Barnett. “The Southern Illinois Regional Leadership Community designation and associated goals further solidify our commitment to a regional career awareness and exploration framework, and fills the Leadership Community gap in southernmost Illinois.”
“We are proud to extend the reach of the Success Network into southern Illinois,” says Director Edith Njuguna. “Education and workforce leaders in the region have long been engaged with our Network Organizers, supporting local implementation of the PWR Act and serving as exemplars for rural communities across the State. We look forward to learning from their work while supporting their efforts to equitably increase postsecondary attainment in the region.”
The Southern Illinois Region’s network is the footprint of the SI Now economic development initiative, which includes the 17 southernmost counties of Illinois (Jefferson, Randolph, Perry, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Pulaski, and Massac). Since the region is geographically large, Success Network activities will begin as seed projects in Jackson, Johnson, and Williamson counties and then expand to other counties.
