In early March 2025, 30 City Colleges students, staff, and faculty members boarded a plane for Birmingham, Alabama. Their itinerary in hand outlined several of the historic places they’d be visiting during their three-day trip, including 16th Street Baptist Church, the Legacy Museum, the Edmund Pettus Bridge. But what the itinerary couldn’t outline is just how impactful this trip would be. The trip took City Colleges student leaders, including several from the Timuel D. Black Jr. Scholarship & Fellowship (TBSF) program, along with Student Government Association members and student ambassadors, to various historic sites and civil rights memorials in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma. The sites included a Birmingham church that was the center of a deadly 1963 bombing—the marks still visible on the outside of the church building. The students also visited museums that explained the history of enslaved people, the medical testing enslaved women were subjected to, and lynching. And notably, exactly 60 years after the tragic “Bloody Sunday” assault, they walked across the bridge where people were met with violence for marching for their right to vote. For many on the trip, standing in the very places they had only seen in history books brought up a range of emotions. “This trip means everything to me because I am proud of my Blackness, the history of my people, and all the pain they endured for me,” shared Malcolm X College student Rose Stamps, a participant in the TBSF program. “I can never repay them, but I can live for them, tell their stories, and make sure they are not forgotten.” “This trip felt like a pilgrimage to me,” explained Harold Washington College student and TBSF recipient Jaiku Neoj. “I have a deep appreciation for the history and the individuals who paved the way and made it possible for me to live as openly as I do and have the privileges that I do. It was an honor to be able to immerse myself in history and walk in history makers’ footsteps.” Many students returned home ready to get to work leading and building change in their own communities. The day after returning home from the trip, Harry S Truman College student and participant in the TBSF program Laniya Fields attended Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Black Student Roundtable at City Hall. “A lot of times, we go about our day to day without even realizing what was sacrificed for us,” said Jaiku “This trip reignited a fire in my and reaffirmed by commitment to my community.” The TBSF program, including the trip to Alabama, is funded by the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation. Inspired by the late City Colleges professor Timuel Black’s lifelong commitment to equity and justice, the program’s goal is to support City Colleges students who are emerging community leaders as they complete their studies and hone their community change leadership skills. The students were joined by Zenobia Johnson-Black, Timuel Black’s wife of nearly 40 years, Michelle Duster, a writing tutor at Wright College and the great granddaughter of Ida B. Wells, and Veronica Herrero, president of the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation. View photos from the trip below.

City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Held a Celebration of Black Learner Excellence, Shared Best Practices that Are Increasing Black Student Achievement and Celebrated Three People Who Have Shown Leadership, Resilience, and Excellence (Chicago,, IL) – (February 14, 2025) – The City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) Foundation held a Celebration of Black Learner Excellence at Malcolm X College (1900 W. Jackson Street in Chicago)on February 13, 2025 to share how, along with its incredible partners and through its learning agenda, it is successfully supporting students, resulting in improved student outcomes, especially for Black students. In doing this work, City Colleges is putting students on the path to upward mobility and generational wealth. “Black student success is essential to our mission of supporting all our students. I am proud that we are increasing Black student enrollment and outcomes, and know with the investments our community is making, we will do even more,” said President of the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, Executive Vice Chancellor – Institutional Advancement and Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff at City Colleges, Veronica Herrero.  “I’m also thrilled to honor three special people who are changing lives through their service to our community.”   “Education and equity are the cornerstones of economic development, laying the foundation for a thriving, inclusive future. At Intersect Illinois, we understand that empowering Black learners and fostering equitable access to education are not just moral imperatives but economic necessities. City Colleges of Chicago exemplifies the transformative impact of investing in education, cultivating talent, and creating opportunities that fuel our state’s growth and prosperity,” said President and CEO Christy George, Intersect Illinois. City Colleges and all its supporters are committed to supporting Black students—and all its students—so that they can achieve their ambitions, fuel Chicago’s economy, and become leaders in our communities and for our city.  To that end, the event celebrated recent achievements, including a record increase in Black student credit enrollment since Fall 2021 (+35% for Black male students; +28% for Black female students). It also introduced the bold goal that by 2032, 55% of credential-seeking students new to City Colleges will earn a degree, certificate or transfer to a bachelor’s degree-granting institution within four years of starting at City Colleges – across all racial groups. “As the Higher Education Appropriations Committee Chairman, I know that higher education is a vital pathway to the workforce so that’s why I remain committed to being a strong advocate for our students and the leadership of these institutions. The success of our Black learners, all learners, is essential as we build a stronger and more equitable Chicago and all of Illinois,” said Illinois State Representative La Shawn K. Ford.  In addition, three remarkable individuals were honored at the event – individuals who are champions of Black learners and who are changing Chicago communities through their work and service to others. This year’s honorees were: Civic Leader Award: Illinois State Representative La Shawn K. Ford Representative Ford’s leadership and advocacy has been instrumental in advancing opportunities for Black learners in Chicago. His unwavering commitment to the success of Black students continues to make a profound impact on our city’s educational landscape. Legacy Award: Ellen Alberding As retired President of the Joyce Foundation and former member of the City Colleges of Chicago Board of Trustees, Ellen Alberding has played a pivotal role in advancing access to education and opportunity, significantly influencing the City Colleges of Chicago community. Educator Excellence in Equity Award: Tammy Scott-Brand, Dean of Nursing, Malcolm X College Dean Scott-Brand has impacted countless City Colleges students, driving both academic success and life-changing opportunity. Her efforts have empowered students to achieve their full potential, making a lasting difference in the local healthcare landscape.  “When we invest in education, we invest in the unlimited potential of our students, their lives, and our communities. I’m very honored to have won the Equity Award, however, seeing City Colleges of Chicago students succeed is truly my greatest reward,” said Dean of Nursing Tammy Scott-Brand (MSN-ED, RN), Malcolm X College. Special thanks to our partners and sponsors: Loop Capital, The Joyce Foundation, Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation, Judith and Edwin Cohen Family Foundation, Mark and Rachel Hoplamazian, John and Bonnie Atkinson, Northwestern Medicine, and SNtial.  For more information on the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation and its Celebration of Black Learner Excellence event click here or visit https://foundation.ccc.edu/black-learner-excellence/. For more information about City Colleges of Chicago visit www.ccc.edu or call 773-COLLEGE. City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Held a Celebration of Black Learner Excellence, Shared Best Practices that Are Increasing Black Student Achievement and Celebrated Three People Who Have Shown Leadership, Resilience, and Excellence

CHICAGO— (February 14, 2025) – The City Colleges of Chicago Foundation held a Celebration of Black Learner Excellence at Malcolm X College (1900 W. Jackson Street in Chicago) on February 13, 2025 to share how, along with its incredible partners and through its learning agenda, it is successfully supporting students, resulting in improved student outcomes, especially for Black students. In doing this work, City Colleges is putting students on the path to upward mobility and generational wealth. “Black student success is essential to our mission of supporting all our students. I am proud that we are increasing Black student enrollment and outcomes, and know with the investments our community is making, we will do even more,” said President of the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, Executive Vice Chancellor – Institutional Advancement and Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff at City Colleges, Veronica Herrero. “I’m also thrilled to honor three special people who are changing lives through their service to our community.” “Education and equity are the cornerstones of economic development, laying the foundation for a thriving, inclusive future. At Intersect Illinois, we understand that empowering Black learners and fostering equitable access to education are not just moral imperatives but economic necessities. City Colleges of Chicago exemplifies the transformative impact of investing in education, cultivating talent, and creating opportunities that fuel our state’s growth and prosperity,” said President and CEO Christy George, Intersect Illinois. City Colleges and all its supporters are committed to supporting Black students—and all its students—so that they can achieve their ambitions, fuel Chicago’s economy, and become leaders in our communities and for our city. To that end, the event will celebrate recent achievements, including a record increase in Black student credit enrollment since 2021 (+35% for Black male students; +28% for Black female students). It will also introduce the bold goal that by 2032, 55% of credential-seeking students new to City Colleges will earn a degree, certificate or transfer to a bachelor’s degree-granting institution within four years of starting at City Colleges – across all racial groups. “As the Higher Education Appropriations Committee Chairman, I know that higher education is a vital pathway to the workforce so that’s why I remain committed to being a strong advocate for our students and the leadership of these institutions. The success of our Black learners, all learners, is essential as we build a stronger and more equitable Chicago and all of Illinois,” said Illinois State Representative La Shawn K. Ford. In addition, the summit will honor three remarkable individuals who are champions of Black learners and changing Chicago communities through their work and service to others. This years’ honorees for their respective awards are: Civic Leader Award:Illinois State Representative La Shawn K. FordRepresentative Ford’s leadership and advocacy has been instrumental in advancing opportunities for Black learners in Chicago. His unwavering commitment to the success of Black students continues to make a profound impact on our city’s educational landscape. Legacy Award:Ellen AlberdingAs retired President of the Joyce Foundation and former member of the City Colleges of Chicago Board of Trustees, Ellen Alberding has played a pivotal role in advancing access to education and opportunity, significantly influencing the City Colleges of Chicago community. Educator Excellence in Equity Award:Tammy Scott Brand, Dean of Nursing, Malcolm X CollegeDean Scott-Brand has impacted countless City Colleges students, driving both academic success and life-changing opportunity. Her efforts have empowered students to achieve their full potential, making a lasting difference in the local healthcare landscape. “When we invest in education, we invest in the unlimited potential of our students, their lives, and our communities. I’m very honored to have won the Equity Award, however, seeing City Colleges of Chicago students succeed is truly my greatest reward,” said Dean of Nursing Tammy Scott-Brand (MSN-ED, RN), Malcolm X College. Special thanks to our partners and sponsors: Loop Capital, The Joyce Foundation, Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation, Judith and Edwin Cohen Family Foundation, Mark and Rachel Hoplamazian, John and Bonnie Atkinson, Northwestern Medicine, and SNtial. For more information on the Celebration of Black Learner Excellence event click here or visit www.ccc.edu/BLE. For more information about City Colleges of Chicago visit www.ccc.edu or call 773-COLLEGE. City Colleges of Chicago is the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity—empowering all Chicagoans to take part in building a stronger and more just city.

This Black History Month, two students in City Colleges of Chicago’s Timuel D. Black Jr. Scholarship & Fellowship (TBSF) Program are reflecting on Black history as they build plans for bold futures. Tamara Thomas is a 37-year-old mother and guardian of two teenage boys in Englewood. A student in the TBSF Program, she’s studying social work at Kennedy-King College in the hopes of one day becoming a therapist. While on track to turn that goal into reality with a 4.0 GPA and plans to transfer to Governors State University, Tamara’s education wasn’t always her focus. She dropped out of high school during her junior year but found herself back in the classroom a few years later, getting ready to earn her GED through free prep classes at Kennedy-King. After that, she took at 16-year break from school and held several different jobs, eventually starting a small hair and skincare business. She knew she would need more education to scale the brand, so she enrolled in business classes at Kennedy-King. Tamara Thomas “Entrepreneurship is great, but I felt like something was missing,” Tamara said. “I kept doing research on different career paths, and I finally realized I wanted to help people. That’s when I made the decision to switch my major to social work.” As she was researching scholarships, Tamara noticed the TBSF Program, which stood out to her because of the fellowship component. The program is inspired by the late City Colleges professor Timuel Black’s remarkable career, his lifelong commitment to equity and justice in Chicago, and his belief in the power of community history and activism. Among many achievements, his legacy includes marching with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., campaigning for the first Black mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington, and mentoring a young Barack Obama. “The opportunity to be a part of a cohort and learn about social justice is a huge part of the work that I will be doing as a social worker,” said Tamara. “I’ve learned a lot about Timuel’s story through the fellowship—the work he accomplished and the passion he had to do it for so long. Learning about his legacy has made me take a look at the power of one individual within a community. There’s beauty in the impact I can make as one person and how that can contribute to the whole of my society.” The idea of making a local impact is shared by Tamara’s TBSF peer Laniya Fields. Laniya is a student across the city at Truman College. A few years ago, she was working at a day care on the West Side next to Congressman Danny Davis’ office. She decided to start volunteering at the office when she discovered that she was one of the few young people getting involved. “I realized that I was the only young person there, and that was crazy to me. I didn’t know about all this work that was happening in my community or all of the resources available to us,” said Laniya. “That shifted my focus, and I decided I wanted to help connect people to those resources.” Laniya Fields Laniya enrolled at Truman and decided to study international relations. She loved the community feel of the college and started to get heavily involved on campus—in TRIO, Student Government Association, Environmental Club, and Book Club. She also started a position as a student worker in Truman’s Financial Aid Office. “I had all of these ideas, but I wanted to learn how to organize. I wanted to find a mentor,” she said. A classmate told Laniya about TBSF and the trip he took to visit civil rights sites in Alabama through the fellowship. Laniya saw it as a perfect opportunity to learn more about civic engagement and activism, as well as the civil rights leaders who did both effectively. As she learned about Timuel Black’s biography, Laniya realized they had a few things in common. They both attended three different high schools before graduating, and both gained worked experience before heading back into the classroom for college. Additionally, Laniya wants to help build up other leaders in her community, something Timuel excelled at. “I want to encourage other people in my community to become leaders—to create the type of change they want to see. That’s what Timuel did to inspire Harold Washington and Obama,” she said. Next month, Laniya, Tamara, and the rest of their TBSF cohort will take their own trip to Alabama to visit historic civil rights landmarks including the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and the 16th Street Baptist Church. They look forward to deepening their knowledge of Black history as they get inspired by the civil rights giants who came before them. “When I started to learn about the roots of Black history, it changed my view on civic engagement. Young people tend to think it’s just about voting, but civic engagement is so much more than that. It’s about meeting each other in community spaces and changing the narrative. Learning about Black leaders has shown me how we can make change for tomorrow. If we can create more intergenerational and interconnected spaces at a local level, that’s the first step of creating positive change,” Laniya said.

Around 200 engineering students from Wright College brought their innovative ideas to life at the 2024 Engineering Ideas Competition on Tuesday, December 3. Nearly 40 teams of students competed in the 6th annual competition, which is held to give them the opportunity to share their ideas and research, and gain valuable experience in presentation and shared scholarship. The presenting teams came up with a wide-range of useful solutions, including a wearable patch to prevent anaphylactic shock, a device to quickly save cars that have been submerged in water, navigational glasses for the visually impaired, and more. Each group laid out their project design and summary on a large presentation board, and a panel of judges walked around the atrium at Wright College as the students presented their ideas to the experts. Several City Colleges leaders including Chancellor Juan Salgado, Provost Dr. Mark Potter, and Wright College President Dr. Andrés Oroz also joined to view the hard work put on display by the students. The winner of the competition will be announced in the coming days. In addition to the excitement of the annual event, several engineering students celebrated scholarships they have received through the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, including 15 students who were acknowledged for receiving awards from the Greer Foundation. The cohort of students will receive $1,500 per semester while at City Colleges and $2,500 per semester when they transfer to complete a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Elizabeth Luviano, an aspiring astronaut from Belmont Cragin who is studying aerospace engineering at Wright, was one of the recipients. Elizabeth Luviano “Ever since I came to [Wright College], I feel like I have found my purpose,” Elizabeth said. “The [Greer Foundation] scholarship is helping me so much. It covers me so I can study without feeling the pressure of where am I going to get the money from next.” Elizabeth’s future plans include transferring to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to earn her bachelor’s degree and continuing her education in a master’s degree program. She dreams of one day working for NASA. After an acknowledgement of the Greer Foundation scholarship recipients, another student was surprised with a scholarship on the spot. Hinelben Patel learned she would be taking home a $5,000 check from Transit Capital Partners (TCP) through the company’s partnership with the City Colleges Foundation. To learn more about the City Colleges of Chicago School of Engineering, visit www.ccc.edu/engineering.

Five City Colleges of Chicago alumni join the 2024-2026 cohort of the Obama Foundation Voyagers. These alumni are among 94 recipients of the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service from all over the United States. This recognition not only highlights their dedication to community service but also provides them with vital resources to further their careers in public service. The Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service supports students with a proven track record of community service and a passion for helping others. To help them continue their work, recipients receive up to $50,000 in tuition assistance over two years, a $10,000 stipend for a Summer Voyage, $4,200 in Airbnb travel credits for their summer work-travel experience, and an additional $20,000 in Airbnb travel credits to be used over the next decade. This scholarship aims to alleviate the financial burden of a college education to allow students to focus on their commitment to public service. In addition to financial aid, the Voyager Scholarship Program provides students with the tools and opportunities to develop their leadership skills. Through immersive work-travel experiences, monthly meetings, individual coaching, and access to a network of leaders and mentors, the program is designed to empower the next generation of leaders. After graduation, students will join the Obama Foundation’s global community, gaining access to Foundation resources and programming. The selection of these five City Colleges of Chicago alumni as Obama Foundation Voyagers is a testament to their dedication to public service as well as the impact they made at City Colleges, their transfer institutions, and the communities where they live and work.

City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Board Welcomes Four New Members   The City Colleges of Chicago Foundation announces the addition of four new members to its esteemed Board of Directors.  Melissa Flores, Jonathan Glover, Quintin Williams, Ph.D., and Darlene Oliver Hightower, J.D. bring diverse expertise and a shared commitment to the Foundation’s mission of supporting City Colleges of Chicago students.   The new officers join the following current board members, including Monica Bibbs, who was recently appointed secretary:  Gary L. Rozier, Chair  Nicole Johnson-Scales, Vice Chair  Maribel Rodriguez, Treasurer  Monica Bibbs, Secretary  William Lowry, Sr., Chair Emeritus  Norma Manjarrez  Chancellor Juan Salgado  Darrell A. Williams  We are so pleased to welcome our newest Board members.  As our reach grows, this strong and passionate team will help us to ensure the greatest possible impact on our students,” said City Colleges of Chicago Board President Veronica Herrero.   New Board Members:  Melissa Flores  Melissa Flores oversees the Chicago engagement strategy on the Global Public Policy and Government Relations team at McDonald’s headquarters. She also serves as an independent, part-time organizational development consultant and executive coach to nonprofits in Chicago. Ms. Flores is chapter lead for the Harvard Latino Alumni Alliance (HLAA) in Chicago, serves as an Alumni Ambassador for the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and is a mentor to the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Chicago Fellowship. Born and raised in Chicago and the daughter of Mexican immigrants, she has dedicated her career to advocate for equity and improve the educational and economic outcomes of children and families. Ms. Flores holds a B.A. in English Professional Writing from Mount Mary College; an Ed.M. in Education from Harvard University; and an M.A. in Chicana/o Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.   Jonathan Glover   Jonathan Glover is Senior Client Advisor at Northern Trust Wealth Management where he collaborates with clients and their advisors to offer holistic wealth management services for individuals and families, privately held businesses, family offices, and foundations and endowments. Before arriving at Northern Trust, he held various leadership positions at BNY Mellon and U.S. Bank. Mr. Glover is a Chicago Urban League IMPACT Leadership Development Fellow. He serves his community in various capacities, including as a volunteer attorney at Legal Aid Chicago and as a member of the Ambassadors Board. Mr. Glover holds a B.S. in Finance, and a J.D. in Business and Commercial Law from New England Law|Boston. Darlene Oliver Hightower, J. D.  Darlene Oliver Hightower, J. D. serves as designee for Katya Nuques, Chair of the City Colleges of Chicago Board of Trustees. Ms. Hightower is the President & CEO of the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), where she leads the organization’s strategic vision to address built environment issues through the lens of racial and economic justice. Previously, she served as VP of Community Health Equity at Rush University Medical Center and led the development of West Side United. A recognized leader, she is a Leadership Greater Chicago Daniel Burnham Fellow, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Fellow, and a Civic Leadership Academy Fellow, and serves on several boards, including the ACLU of Illinois.  Quintin Williams, Ph.D.  Dr. Quintin Williams is the program officer for the Gun Violence Prevention and Justice Reform initiatives at the Joyce Foundation, addressing racial equity, reentry for formerly incarcerated citizens, and police reforms. Dr. Williams has more than a decade of experience as a criminal justice reform policy advocate, researcher, coalition builder, manager of reform campaigns, and community organizer. Dr. Williams previously worked at Heartland Alliance where he led that organization’s Fully Free Campaign, and worked on state level reforms that would end “permanent punishments” and restore rights to people with criminal records. Dr. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from Loyola University. His dissertation examined how housing insecurity affects formerly incarcerated people reentering society. 

Truman College has received a $900,000 grant from The McCormick Foundation to help support the launch of the city-wide Education Workforce Center (EWC). The EWC will serve as a “one-stop shop,” providing academic support, mentorship, community, professional development, and emotional support to the Truman College community and alumni, community members, and other early childhood education professionals and practitioners—no matter where they are on their career journey.  The EWC is slated to launch in the Fall 2024 semester. 

With the support of a City Colleges of Chicago Foundation scholarship, recent Wright College graduate Praise Daniels is one step closer to earning a four-year degree in engineering.   At an end-of-year engineering program celebration on May 10, Praise was selected as the spring 2024 TCP-CTA Transfer Scholarship winner, which is managed by the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation and made possible by sponsors Transit Capital Partners and the Chicago Transit Authority.   “This scholarship will really help me with tuition and rent as I transfer… I am extremely grateful for this opportunity,” he said.   Praise will participate in an internship with the Chicago Quantum Exchange this summer before he transfers to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Grainger School of Engineering in the fall.  To help us celebrate the Class of ’24, consider donating to the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation and supporting students like Praise with scholarships that fuel their future. Visit www.ccc.edu/24 to get started. 

The PepsiCo Foundation announces the fourth class of PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. (Success Matters in Life and Education) Scholarship recipients, including 10 City Colleges students. The S.M.I.L.E. scholarship program is designed to support students as they transition from community colleges to four-year universities, empowering them to achieve their academic and professional goals. Since 2021, the PepsiCo Foundation has awarded this transformational scholarship to 25 City Colleges students, recognizing their strong academic records, demonstrated leadership, and future goals. This year, after four years of strong partnership, the PepsiCo Foundation increased the number of City Colleges recipients from five to ten. These ten City Colleges S.M.I.L.E. Scholars will receive up to $25,000 a year for a maximum of two years (totaling up to $50,000) from the PepsiCo Foundation. Scholars also receive access to mentors, financial wellness training, skill development workshops, and more. This year’s recipients are: Mariam S. Adegbite – University of Illinois at Chicago, Human Resources Management Ameena A. Adeyemo – University of Illinois at Chicago, Computer Science and Programming Edgar Brizuela – University of Illinois at Chicago, Computer Science and Programming Kels Cavin – Illinois Institute of Technology, Computer Science and Programming Vanessa Gama – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Chemical Engineering Julia D. Harper – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Computer and Information Sciences Ruby Jimenez – Loyola University Chicago, Chemistry Jacob V. Morales – City Colleges of Chicago: Olive-Harvey College, Business Administration Brenda Najjuma – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Computer Engineering Ariba Vohra – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Accounting Since 2020, the PepsiCo Foundation has awarded nearly 2,800 scholarships. More than 90% of recipients are on track to graduate or have already graduated. About the PepsiCo Foundation   The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we’re focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and economic opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsicofoundation.com.