City Colleges of Chicago, Richard J. Daley College, and the Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center will hold a ceremony on August 16 to recognize ten students who have completed the After 22 Occupational, Life and Academic Skills (After 22/OLAS) program.
The event will take place at 2:00 p.m. in the Beattie Theatre at Richard J. Daley College, located at 7500 S. Pulaski Road in Chicago. Families, friends, elected officials, and leaders from all three organizations are expected to attend.
“I’m excited to celebrate our outstanding students who have successfully completed the After 22/OLAS Program,” said Interim President Peggy Korellis of Richard J. Daley College. “This program offers academic instruction and educational support to young adults with intellectual disabilities, helping them experience a full college journey as they work toward meaningful careers. It perfectly aligns with Daley College’s mission to empower our diverse community by providing innovative education and programming in a supportive and inclusive environment.”
The After 22 Project is recognized as a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP), which helps participants move into postsecondary activities through flexible learning opportunities, leadership training, job skills development, internships, and job placement services. The program provides an alternative for students who might otherwise face long waits for similar services after age 22.
Students receive academic instruction and job skill development at Richard J. Daley College. Staff from both Daley College and Anixter Center collaborate to design individualized education plans that focus on workplace soft skills such as communication strategies, self-advocacy, professionalism, and navigating institutions.
Internships are part of the curriculum both on campus and throughout Chicago. Students assist in various college departments or are placed with service sector businesses or technology companies. The Anixter Center connects participants with jobs or internships at community employers while also supporting those employers in creating successful placements.
“Richard J. Daley College and City Colleges of Chicago are committed to equipping our students with the tools they need to lead strong, independent lives, and I want to congratulate the After 22 graduates,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado of City Colleges of Chicago. “I’m also deeply grateful for the invaluable support from the Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center. They recognized a crucial gap in services, and together, we bridged it, ensuring our students have the opportunity to succeed and thrive.”
City Colleges of Chicago serves more than 73,000 students each year across its seven colleges—including Richard J. Daley College—and several satellite sites throughout the city.
The Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center is a nonprofit organization focused on serving people with disabilities across metropolitan Chicago by providing services that promote inclusion in education, employment, recreation, and community life.