City Colleges of Chicago and Richard J. Daley College, in partnership with the Chicago Bilingual Nurse Consortium, announced the opening of the Chicago Welcome Back Center this morning at the Arturo Velasquez Institute. The Center is supporting immigrants with professional degrees obtained abroad so that they may re-enter their profession or establish a related career in the state of Illinois. With equity as a pillar of City Colleges’ strategic plan, this program strives to support economic development in Illinois and Chicago, and to help Illinois’ employers gain diversity and equity in their organizations. CWBC will serve as a regional center of information, resources, and support. This program is a partnership with the Chicago Bilingual Nurse Consortium, supporting immigrants and refugees who would like to achieve Illinois licensure in nursing to work in the healthcare sector. The CWBC program is based on the national Welcome Back Initiative’s model, and will assist participants in exploring and pursuing alternative careers in healthcare while they are on the path towards licensure. The Center will offer case management and support services, as well as referrals to educational, community, and professional programs and organizations. For more information on eligibility, visit www.ccc.edu/welcomeback.