Capping off a year of dedicated fundraising by City Colleges’ faculty and staff to benefit our students and colleges, City Colleges of Chicago was recently awarded over $6 million in grant funding from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).
Approximately $5.7 million of the funding will support our colleges’ Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) programs, and an additional $300,000 will support our Adult Education bridge and transition programs.
To help address education and unemployment gaps for minority communities, WEI programs at City Colleges offer eligible Chicagoans access to short-term programs at no cost. Daley College, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, and Wright College have each received at least $1 million from the ICCB to support the following WEI programs at their colleges:
- Technology Works at Daley College
- WEI Scholars at Kennedy-King College
- Project MPACT at Malcolm X College
- Project Evolve at Olive-Harvey College
- Wright JobHire at Wright College
Over the last few years, WEI programs at City Colleges have helped numerous students earn industry-recognized credentials and transition into meaningful careers. After completing a short-term Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program last year, Project MPACT participant Joshua Garner was offered two positions as an EMT. In another high-demand industry, Vickie Custodio, a Project Evolve participant, was hired to serve as the general manager of a cannabis dispensary after completing a WEI program in cannabis dispensary operations.
Additionally, as part of ICCB’s recent funding announcement, the organization awarded $300,000 to City Colleges of Chicago to support our Adult Education bridge and transition programs. Through City Colleges’ Career Bridge programs, students are able improve their reading, writing, math, and English skills while earning an industry certificate that can lead to an in-demand career.
“I know how expensive college can be, but I was able to learn so much for free. [The Early Childhood Education Bridge Program] gave me the tools and the support I needed to earn my certificate,” said Georgina Reyes, a City Colleges Adult Education student. “This is going to form my future.”
To learn more about WEI programs at City Colleges, visit: www.ccc.edu/wei
To learn more about Adult Education at City Colleges, visit: www.ccc.edu/adulted
