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Summer 2021 ISACorps Alumni E-Newsletter
Be Informed. Food for Thought. Resources.
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In this Issue
Welcome to the ISACorps Alumni quarterly e-newsletter! Alumni members can access the newsletter on the ISACorps Alumni webpage, join the ISACorps Alumni Directory, and read more about ISACorps alumni updates and announcements.
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News & Announcements
CorpsCon 2021
CorpsCon 2021 is being held virtually again this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty-two new hires have joined returning ISACorps and GEAR UP Corps members, in addition to a new cohort called the Recovery Corps, who will be helping high school seniors whose postsecondary planning was impacted by the COVID outbreak. In addition to the traditional training elements, the Corps also participated in a master’s level curriculum called Go Alliance Academy, and workshops to heighten professional writing skills, and reading the book “Ready, Willing and Able”. While we miss the ability to hang out in person chatting it up and getting to know each other, we have still found ways to socialize and get to know each other through social hours, small group discussions and region meetings. CorpsCon wraps up this year on August 20th.
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Interested in receiving an alumni t-shirt and pin?
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We have new alumni t-shirts! We truly appreciated your dedication and service to the ISACorps and wanted to send you a small gift. If you have not yet received a new one yet, we would like to send you an ISACorps alumni t-shirt and pin for your service to ISACorps! Please complete this form as soon as you can. You should receive your alumni gear in 1-2 weeks.
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Monthly Alumni Connections
Join our monthly Alumni Connection for networking with your fellow ISACorps alums, the old and new. Think of this as an informal mid-week gathering with old colleagues. Our chats will allow you to reconnect with ISACorps alums, create new relationships, meet partners in various industries and grow your professional network. All virtual chats will be held on the last Wednesday of the month from 5pm to 6pm CST.
Please see meeting dates below
August 25, 2021
September 29, 2021
October 27, 2021
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3 things to ask yourself about everything that you do
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How you respond to setbacks is what defines your character, says Stacey Abrams, the first Black woman in the history of the United States to be nominated by a major party for governor. In an electrifying talk, she shares the lessons she learned from her campaign for governor of Georgia -- and some advice on how to change the world. "Be aggressive about your ambition," Abrams says.
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How to make stress your friend
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Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.
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Sahar Steiner
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Last year, Sahar had a parent reach out after attending a presentation she gave at her daughter's school. The parent was incredibly overwhelmed and even shed a few tears sharing that her health had been really difficult to manage the last several years and she wanted to help her daughter in the college-going process but felt completely out of her element. Sahar reassured her that they could work through it together. They met virtually to complete her FAFSA and after working through the entire form, the mother cried, telling Sahar that she was so grateful and that it had been such a hard few years. The mother had worried she'd need to pay someone to help her, and being on disability, she was not in a position to do so. “It was so meaningful to be able to help someone through a process that caused them immense stress when so many other things had not gone their way previously," said Sahar.
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Viviann Anguiano
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Viviann Anguiano recently joined the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions as a policy advisor on higher education issues. Viviann works on higher education accountability and affordability issues in federal law and policy. She works on federal legislation to help make college free, reduce the burden of student loan debt, and hold predatory actors accountable for targeting Black and brown communities to enroll in low-quality programs with little economic return. Viviann looks forward to making the higher education system more racially equitable. She enjoys building relationships with various stakeholder groups to better understand the needs of students, borrowers, and communities. Viviann is an alumna of the ISACorps 2011 cohort. She earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago and a master's degree in Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
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Looking to Earn Continuing Education Credits
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Did you know that ISAC awards Continuing Education (CE) credits and Professional Development (PD) hours to session participants at a rate of one per contact hour? To receive CE credits, participants must attend each session in its entirety and complete an ISAC evaluation form. To receive PD hours, participants must complete an ISBE evaluation form and submit their Illinois Educator Identification Number (EIN) to the Professional Development staff at isac.outreachtraining@illinois.gov.
ISAC’s Division of Capacity Development and Training offers professional development opportunities throughout Illinois for counselors, mentors, college access professionals, and community partners who are assisting students with the college-going and financial aid process.
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Upcoming Trainings
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Looking to Grow Your Financial Aid Leadership Skills?
Did you know that Blue Icon Advisors is NASFAA's financial aid consulting service for colleges, universities, and career schools? Their New Director Group Coaching professional development opportunity is ideal for new financial aid directors with less than one year of experience at the director level. You'll build your financial aid leadership skills and develop a professional network of peers. Here's what Carlos Villarroel, associate director of financial aid at Portland Community College and June 2021 coaching participant had to say about his experience: "I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this group and will take lots away from it. All of the concepts were very eye opening and will allow for us to make simple changes quickly. I would say, this has been one of the most effective training groups I have been a part of." Sign up today to reserve your spot.
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Wednesday, September 8th 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. CST
UChicago Consortium on School Research Briefing on Standardized Tests
Join CCAPS to hear the latest research from UChicago’s Consortium on School Research around Making Meaning of Multiple Standardized Tests. Researchers from the Consortium will be joined by practitioners who will share their views on this potentially fraught topic.
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Wednesday, September 22th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
New Statewide Higher Education Plans
Please join us to hear about two statewide higher education plans that will shape how Illinois will advance equity in higher education. At this meeting, we will hear from the Illinois Board of Higher Education as they share their newly completed Strategic Plan. And from leadership of Chicago State University on its Action Plan from the Equity Working Group for Black Student Access and Success in Illinois Higher Education.
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Wednesday, October 6th from 10:30 a.m. – noon
Mental Health and Wellness in Higher Education
Mental health and wellness have long been misunderstood, stigmatized and overlooked. Prior to the pandemic, efforts were already underway to improve access to critical mental health and wellness supports for college students, but with Covid-19 the need has a new spotlight and urgency. Join us to learn from local and national leaders about current efforts including the Illinois Mental Health Early Action Act, the role of peers in mental wellness and how higher educations and non-profits are working toward systems change.
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If you have any questions regarding this e-Message, please contact Alumni Relations by sending an e-mail message to isac.corpsalumni@illinois.gov. |
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© 2021 Illinois Student Assistance Commission
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If you no longer wish to receive ISACorps Alumni e-Messages, click on the "Unsubscribe" link that appears at the bottom of this message. In the listing that appears, uncheck the box for the "ISACorps Alumni Group," and then click on the "Update Profile" button that appears at the bottom of the page.
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