Chicago-Based Nonprofit Announces New Initiative To Help Community College Students Access High-Growth Industries

One Million Degrees launches OMD Works, connecting City Colleges of Chicago students with professional opportunities with legal, finance, and IT employers

CHICAGO, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- One Million Degrees (OMD)—a Chicago-based nonprofit whose evidence-based holistic student support model has been found to significantly improve student persistence and completion—today announced an ambitious multi-year pilot initiative designed to help more Chicago-area community college students access career paths in high-growth industries. Built in concert with top regional employers, the new program—OMD Works—connects college students with paid internships, apprenticeships, and mentorship through a network of Chicago-based companies while providing wraparound support services, including coaching, advising and scholarships.

"The community college students we serve need more than just classroom resources to thrive in today's rapidly evolving economy: they also need opportunities to gain real-world work experience necessary to put their degree to work," said Dr. Rita Raichoudhuri, chief program officer at One Million Degrees. "This is about more than just helping students secure internships and part-time work; it's about equipping students with the skills, support, and opportunities they need to access high-demand careers and achieve upward mobility for themselves and their families."

A 2024 report from the Center for Community College Student Engagement found that although most community college students have chosen a career path, nearly half feel uninformed about their earning potential and in-demand jobs in their region. At the same time, access to internships, apprenticeships, and other kinds of work-based learning experiences are crucial for success after graduation. Students who complete a paid internship, for instance, receive more job offers, earn more money throughout their careers, and are more confident in their ability to communicate their skills to potential employers.

To help close this gap, this initiative aims to remove barriers to meaningful work experiences by providing holistic support to help community college students thrive in internships and transition successfully into their careers. The program will roll out in three phases, beginning with a pilot cohort of 100 students who will learn directly from employers and earn internship opportunities through partner organizations during the summer of 2025.

To scale the reach and impact of OMD Works, OMD has assembled an initial cohort of Chicago-area employers committed to expanding career opportunities for City Colleges students. These five employer partners will provide direct pathways to high-quality jobs, mentorship, and professional development experiences:

• Relativity: A global legal technology company headquartered in Chicago, which will provide students with opportunities to explore data analytics, cybersecurity, and software development.
• Morningstar: One of the world's largest credit ratings agencies and an investment research and financial services.
• Wintrust: A Chicago-based financial services company that owns 15 community banks throughout northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
• CDW: A Fortune 500 technology solutions provider offering career pathways in IT, sales, and business operations, equipping students with in-demand skills for the digital economy.
• CCCIS: A cloud-based platform for the multi-trillion-dollar property and casualty insurance economy for insurers, repairers, automakers, part suppliers, lenders, and more.

The launch of OMD Works builds on OMD's long-running public-private partnership with City Colleges of Chicago, which provides students with wraparound support—including personalized tutoring, success coaching, and scholarship assistance—to help students navigate challenges, persist in their studies and stay on track to graduation. Through OMD Works, students will be set up for paid work experiences aligned with their career interests and academic programs, one-on-one career coaching and professional mentorship and continued academic and personal support through OMD's comprehensive model.

"At Relativity, we aim to power the pursuit of justice, and we recognize that this pursuit should start in our communities. Investing in emerging talent is a pivotal step toward strengthening our communities and building a resilient, skilled workforce for the future," said Sean Neilsen, Manager of Talent Pathways Programming at Relativity. "The OMD Works program is mutually beneficial, helping students build and launch meaningful careers while creating a stronger connection between businesses in the region and the talent they need to succeed."

The launch of OMD Works was made possible, in part, with generous support from Enova, a Chicago-based financial technology company that has been a longstanding supporter of the organization's work. Employers interested in participating in OMD Works can choose from multiple partnership levels, from hosting interns to providing professional mentors or industry-specific training. Learn more at http://onemilliondegrees.org/employers.

About One Million Degrees One Million Degrees accelerates community college students' progress on career pathways to economic mobility by providing wraparound support to highly motivated students to help them succeed in school, work, and life. From tutors and coaches to financial assistance and professional development, OMD offers comprehensive support that empowers scholars to transform their lives and communities.

Currently, OMD serves over 2000 scholars in all 7 of the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) and is scaling to reach over 3000 community college scholars through our unique partnership with CCC. In addition to direct services, OMD partners with employers across industries to build on-ramps to in-demand jobs through internships and apprenticeships, and supports institutions nationwide to design and implement models of holistic student support.

SOURCE One Million Degrees