In partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, this new City Colleges initiative ensures students and their families have access to nutritious food through enhanced campus markets,  frozen meal offerings, snack items and improved connection to public benefits  CHICAGO— (September 30, 2025) – Today, City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) and the Greater Chicago Food Depository announce the launch of “Food Security for Life,” a groundbreaking, multi-layered initiative that works to ensure every student at City Colleges has sufficient food while they focus on their education at City Colleges, one that leads them to a sustainable wage and good career that offers food security for life.    The announcement took place on Tuesday, September 30 in the Great Hall of Kennedy-King College. Click here to watch the recording. “Food security is about more than meals. It’s about dignity, stability, and the ability to fully participate in life and learning. Research consistently tells us that food-insecure students are more likely to miss class, perform poorly, or drop out altogether. By ensuring access to nutritious food, City Colleges is making an essential investment in student retention, academic achievement, and long-term community health,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson, City of Chicago.  A 2024 survey of City Colleges student basic needs found that 50% identified as food insecure. The two organizations that had partnered to open healthy markets at all colleges recognized a need to do more. The expanding partnership reflects City Colleges’ and the Food Depository’s commitment to meeting students’ basic needs and providing comprehensive student supports. For many students, especially those balancing school, work, and family responsibilities, access to a no cost reliable food source is critical to staying on track toward a degree or credential, and ultimately a family-sustaining career.   To combat food insecurity and ensure students can focus on their education, City Colleges of Chicago and the Greater Chicago Food Depository are launching Food Security for Life.  The initiative will include: dynamic on-campus markets stocked with groceries for students, nutritionally balanced frozen meals to go for students and their families, snack items at various locations around campus, improved connection to public benefits, and student apprenticeships. Food Security for Life works to ensure that every student can focus on their academic and personal success without worrying about where their next meal is coming from or how to afford it.   “I’m proud to launch the Food Security for Life program, an effort that harnesses the power of the entire community and gives our students and their families access to the food they need to thrive,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As the Trump administration guts the SNAP program and tariffs drive up grocery costs for working families, it’s more important than ever to take steps to end food insecurity and help every Illinoisan get the nourishment they need to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.”  “Right now, there are students at City Colleges with the potential to be future leaders of Chicago and Illinois,” said Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. “We have a responsibility to make sure food insecurity never stands between a student and the successful future they are working so hard to reach. By partnering with City Colleges of Chicago, we are meeting students where they are, providing amazing food and pathways to a lifetime free from hunger.”   “Our students come to City Colleges with big dreams, and being hungry should never stand in the way of their education,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago. “Food Security for Life is about supporting the whole student. By removing barriers like this, we are helping our students stay enrolled and focused on their education. This program will build brighter futures for our students, their families and for all of Chicago.”   Thanks to the generosity of donors, all of the food and services in the Food Security for Life program will be offered at no cost to City Colleges students. Knight Impact Partners provided a lead contribution to support the rollout of the partnership over the next five years.   “This is a dynamic partnership between City Colleges and Greater Chicago Food Depository,” said Rebecca Knight, Executive Board Chair of Knight Impact Partners. “By aligning strategy and resources they are eliminating the obstacles and fueling student advancement and economic stability. Where barriers end, opportunity begins.”  Key features of the Food Security for Life program build upon the existing food access points for students available at each college and include:    Dynamic Food Markets: Enhanced food pantries will offer expanded hours, groceries and take-home meals to serve student households; the first expanded market opens in January 2026 at Kennedy-King College Snacks to Go: Launching this fall at all seven colleges and open to any student, free snacks to fuel bodies and minds on campus   Meals to Go: Take home meals starting at three colleges this fall (Malcolm X College, Kennedy-King College, and Olive-Harvey College); with plans to grow to all seven colleges Expanded service to connect students with public benefits including SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid Living wage apprenticeships for City Colleges students at the Greater Chicago Food Depository  For more information, including market hours or how to receive public benefits assistance students should visit their Wellness Center and see posted hours for service.   ###  The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, believes a healthy community starts with food. The Food Depository partners with a network of 850 organizations and programs, including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other partners, working to bring food and opportunity to our neighbors across Chicago and Cook County. The Food Depository addresses the root causes of hunger with job training, advocacy and other strategies that generate economic impact and access to thriving wages. The Food Depository is a proud member of Feeding America – the national network of food banks. Learn more at chicagosfoodbank.org  City Colleges of Chicago is the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility, empowering all Chicagoans to take part in building a stronger Chicago. Learn more about City Colleges of Chicago by visiting www.ccc.edu or click here.  ###  View photos from the event below.

On September 29, City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, Olive-Harvey College (OHC), PepsiCo, and the PepsiCo Foundation joined together to announce their strengthened commitment to educational opportunities and workforce development with a donation of two diesel trucks and a celebration of an additional investment in City Colleges students through PepsiCo Foundation scholarships . The event  was held n the Transportation, Distribution & Logistics Building of Olive-Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn Avenue in Chicago. The event highlighted the powerful impact of the PepsiCo Foundation’s scholarships, which work to provide City Colleges students with critical financial support to help gain access to high-skill, high wage jobs in their communities. The PepsiCo Foundation’s investment in both scholarships and equipment donation aligns with its broader goal of helping to close the opportunity gaps in communities across the country. As of 2025, more than 200 City Colleges students earned over $600,000 in PepsiCo Foundation scholarship support, opening doors and opportunities to students interested in manufacturing, transportation, distribution and logistics careers. Pictured right, Associate Dean Victor Sanchez checks out the diesel components of the donated truck.  “This partnership between City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, Olive-Harvey College, PepsiCo, and the PepsiCo Foundation is more than an investment, it’s a powerful commitment to building futures. With hands-on tools like donated diesel trucks and life-changing scholarships , together, we’re creating real pathways from the classroom to great careers,” said Veronica Herrero, executive vice chancellor, chief institutional advancement officer and president of the City Colleges Foundation. “We are thankful for this wonderful partnership.” “At PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation, we believe that when individuals have access to education, training and capital they can unlock opportunities and further strengthen our communities to build a better future for everyone,” said C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head of Social Impact at PepsiCo, Inc. “Through our scholarship programs, we’re proud to help open pathways of prosperity for the next generation of leaders.” As part of this announcement, students will share how these scholarships have supported them throughout their college journey. As a direct contribution to advance hands-on learning, PepsiCo is donating two diesel trucks to Olive-Harvey College’s Diesel Technology program. This investment helps ensure students gain real-world experience with the same equipment they could be working with in their careers. Practical training like this is essential for building confidence, skill, and excellence in the classroom and beyond. Olive-Harvey College, one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago, was selected for its excellence in workforce education and for its strong focus on transportation, distribution, and logistics (TDL) careers. “This partnership with PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation represents more than a donation—it’s a bridge to opportunity,” said Dr. Kimberly Hollingsworth, president of Olive-Harvey College. “Our students will benefit from both financial support and direct access to the tools they need to be job-ready and on day one after they complete their studies and certification programs.” About City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Fueled by the generosity of Chicago’s philanthropic community, the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, raises charitable contributions to support community college students from all backgrounds in reaching their academic and career goals. About PepsiCoPepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue in 2024, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and drinks, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that places sustainability at the center of our business strategy, seeking to drive growth and build a stronger, more resilient future for PepsiCo and the communities where we operate. For more information, visit                                                                                                   www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo. Learn more about how you can support student success at City Colleges: www.ccc.edu/impact   

The City Colleges of Chicago Foundation works to provide scholarships for students from all backgrounds.   One such scholarship, the Dempsey Travis Scholarship, is named in honor the founder and president of Travis Realty Corporation, a prominent Chicago real estate development firm committed to the revitalization of neighborhoods on the South Side. Mr. Travis believed that individuals can lift themselves up by their bootstraps and become successful leaders in their communities.   “To receive any kind of assistance has been a blessing, as I am the first person from my family to go to college, and later in life at that!”   Anthony Camacho, Dempsey Travis scholar  First-generation college students like Anthony make up nearly half of City Colleges graduates. You too can make a direct impact on our students by giving to one of many student-supporting funds. Learn more at www.ccc.edu/impact.    

In March 2025, thirty City Colleges of Chicago students, staff, and faculty traveled to Alabama—not just to visit historic sites, but to gain a deeper understanding of the civil rights movement. More than two months later at a reflection luncheon on Tuesday, May 13, students shared how the trip transformed them. Chancellor Juan Salgado addressed the students who are either participants in the Timuel D. Black Jr. Scholarship & Fellowship (TBSF) program or members of their college’s Student Government Association. “This trip is an investment,” Chancellor Salgado said. “We are investing in the leaders we need—right now and for the future.” At the luncheon, students presented slideshows, reflections, and powerful visual presentations. Wilbur Wright College Biomedical Engineering student Lourdes Johnson shared in a video reflection that she wants to become a doctor. Being able to see the places she had only read about in history books reignited a passion to address racial inequities in healthcare. Malcolm X College graduate and TBSF scholar Rose Stamps read a narrative about how the trip impacted her. “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,” Rose said. Harold Washington College student and TBSF scholar Jaiku Neoj processed the trip through the lens of their camera. They developed dozens of black and white photos that were showcased throughout the luncheon space. “The trip felt like a pilgrimage,” Jaiku shared. “I have a deep appreciation for the history and the individuals who made it possible for me to live as openly as I do. It reignited a fire in me.” From Olive-Harvey College student Rosario Perez’s celebration of the women behind the movement, to Malcolm X College student Jameka Taylor’s detailed PowerPoint and Harry S Truman College student Laniya Fields’ civic engagement just one day after returning home, it was clear this trip wasn’t the end of something—it was the beginning. For the student leaders who took part in the Timuel D. Black Jr. Fellowship program, the journey to Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma was both educational and deeply emotional. From the 16th Street Baptist Church, still scarred by the 1963 bombing, to the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where marchers were met with violence 60 years ago during “Bloody Sunday,” the group walked in the literal footsteps of freedom fighters. They also visited the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the newly created “Mothers of Gynecology” site—shedding light on often-overlooked chapters of America’s history. This annual journey is made possible by the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation and is inspired by the legacy of Professor Timuel D. Black Jr., whose life was dedicated to equity and justice. His late wife Zenobia Johnson-Black attended both the trip and the luncheon, where she thanked Chancellor Salgado and City Colleges for their continued support of her and her husband’s legacy.

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.