In Lake County, Crossroads Chamber says it is helping students explore high-demand careers before they enter high school through its award-winning Your Future, Your Choice Career Experience. The second annual event held September 22 2026 at Taft Middle School in Winfield reached about 850 seventh and eighth graders from seven Northwest Indiana schools. The program is held in partnership with Junior Achievement of Chicago. Crossroad Chamber says the initiative was developed last year in response to Indiana’s redesigned high school diploma requirements, which emphasize career readiness, work-based learning and individualized educational pathways, and go into effect beginning with the graduating class of 2029.
“Students shouldn’t have to wait until high school to discover the opportunities available to them,” said Deann Patena, president and CEO of Crossroads Chamber. “By connecting them with local employers and introducing them to careers they may have never considered, we’re helping students make more informed decisions about their futures while building a stronger workforce for Northwest Indiana.”
Through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities at the event, students explored industries including robotics, technology, cosmetology, medical imaging, court reporting, construction, utilities and manufacturing. Local employers, trade unions and educational institutions introduced students to high-demand, high-wage careers accessible through apprenticeships, associate degrees, technical training and industry certifications.
The initiative earned a 2026 Innovation and Excellence Award from the Indiana Chamber Executives Association (ICEA), recognizing the chamber’s approach to addressing regional workforce needs through early career exploration. Through its partnership with Junior Achievement of Chicago and continued collaboration with local schools, businesses and workforce organizations, Crossroads Chamber says it seeks to strengthen the connection between education and industry while preparing the next generation of Northwest Indiana’s workforce.
