Black Students in City Colleges of Chicago Continue to Face Systemic Barriers that Impede their Progress
2024 was an opportunity for us to delve deeper into the unique challenges faced by Black students at City Colleges of Chicago. When we first started in 2020, we had a relatively balanced mix of Black and Latino students. Over the last two years, we have seen an increased and urgent need among Latino students in Chicago.
We took 2024 as an opportunity to refocus our attention on all students struggling to find a practical pathway to upward social mobility through education.
We started off on a listening tour to learn more about the new and interesting needs of Black college students. I hosted a few candid conversations and small group discussions, students shared the complex pressures they navigate daily…balancing work, family, and academic responsibilities, often within systems that overlook their needs.
Through these discussions, it was revealed that a persistent lack of representation and support in academic spaces, leading to feelings of invisibility and disconnection. By amplifying their voices, we were able to identify key areas where institutions could improve, such as offering more tailored mental health resources and mentorship opportunities.
Unless you have been living in a cave for the last 20 years, you are aware of the urgent need for systemic change…while celebrating the resilience and determination of these students. As members of the broader academic community, it is our shared responsibility to create educational environments that acknowledge inequities and actively work to dismantle them…fostering spaces (and counterspaces) where all students can thrive.
