The Workforce 180 program, launched by United Way of McLean County in 2019 and hosted at Heartland Community College, builds a bridge that brings local teacher candidates to Illinois State University’s School of Teaching and Learning and sends them back into the Bloomington-Normal community.
Kelli Appel, director of recruitment, retention, and student services in the College of Education, characterized Workforce 180 as a “grow your own” program that meets the needs of the community by turning to members of the community. As a volunteer mentor with the program, Appel has witnessed this impact.
Whereas many students in the School of Teaching and Learning move to the area to study then return closer to their hometowns to work, the Workforce 180 program targets students from Bloomington-Normal who are likely to stay.
Appel said, “They are going to be great teachers because they know the community. They have a higher commitment to the profession and a higher likelihood to stay.”
One of Appel’s mentees, Monique Robinson, exemplifies this commitment. Robinson worked as a certified nursing assistant for 10 years but needed a change.
Through her lived experiences in the community, Robinson identified a need for Black teachers like her. “Most of the schools around here have diverse student populations,” she said. “However, the educational staff is often not reflective of the student populations they serve. I felt that the Workforce 180 program offered me a chance to make a change.”
The program takes place at Heartland Community College. United Way pairs students with mentors who have career connections and the skills necessary to support and empathize with students as they progress towards certifications and careers.
Appel said, “Sometimes it can just seem like a long path for students to get to Illinois State and get their teaching license. Sometimes students lose their way.”
However, the Workforce 180 students navigate the journey with the help of their mentors. Appel and other professionals in a variety of fields—including nurses, paramedics, and trades workers—can answer students’ questions and serve as ongoing resources.
Robinson emphasized how the mentors were encouraging and uplifting throughout her time in the program. “They really believed in us and did all they could to make sure we were successful,” she said. “They also welcomed my kids into the meetings. They tailored the meetings to support our families.”
Robinson completed the Workforce 180 program last year and began studying at Illinois State. She will be student teaching in McLean County Unit District No. 5 in the spring semester then walking in May 2026 commencement, but she will always remember her Workforce 180 graduation as a defining moment.
“I had tried for so many years to go to school, and there was always something standing in front of me accomplishing that goal. This program held me accountable for my success. It allowed me to have the support that I needed to stay motivated to keep going. It also made me wish I would have had this program when I was in high school,” Robinson shared.
Appel noted that the program is currently reaching out to high school students to interest them in careers that the community needs, including teaching.
“Heartland is such a strong partner,” Appel said, “and we’re so fortunate to have an excellent community college with great communication and opportunities for students.
“It’s all these little connecting points that we can better put together by working with Heartland and United Way Workforce 180—rather than being isolated and waiting for students to arrive.”
