Kasandra Henderson

Kasandra Henderson

Chicagoland Workforce Leadership Academy, Class of 2019, Economic Opportunities Program

Coordinator of Career Development and Programs, Learning and Support Unit, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, Illinois

Ms. Henderson has worked for more than seven years in the nonprofit sector, gaining experience in such diverse and critical areas as workforce development, case management, counseling, administrative, and community involvement and awareness. Ms. Henderson earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Speech Communications at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

In her role at CTA, Ms. Henderson leads the Second Chance Program, which offers those with barriers to employment an opportunity to work at the nation’s second –largest transit agency. As the largest initiative of its kind in the country, the Second Chance Program prides itself on being more than just a job; this nationally-recognized program is a holistic career development program that helps turn lives around. The Second Chance program partners with 19 specially-selected social service agencies in the Chicagoland area that recruit and screen qualified individuals for potential employment at CTA.

During her time leading the Second Chance Program, Ms. Henderson has helped countless individuals develop the work skills they need by partnering them with the appropriate social service agency. She has also been instrumental in helping hard-to-place individuals receive the opportunity for full-time employment and training, which in many cases enables the start of a long-term, meaningful career.

Ms. Henderson is proud to have been a Panelist for the Re-entry Education Summit at Olive-Harvey College and was recently awarded Best Training Opportunity from the Safer Foundation.

Kasandra Henderson is a member of the Chicagoland Workforce Leadership Academy, Class of 2019, one of several Workforce Leadership Academies in localities across North America.

The Workforce Leadership Academies are part of the Economic Opportunity Fellows Network, a network of leadership and fellowship programs run by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program. Within this Network, EOP connects national and local leaders from across sectors — nonprofit, government, business, philanthropy, academia, and more — to advance policies and practices with the potential to help low- and moderate-income Americans thrive in today’s economy. Learn more at as.pn/eofn.