President Webb-Walker Honored as “Community Champion” by CPS’ Englewood Community Action Council

Kennedy-King College President Katonja Webb-Walker has received the “Community Champion” award from Chicago Public Schools’ Englewood Community Action Council (CAC). This recognition celebrates President Webb-Walker’s deep commitment to education and her positive impact on the Englewood community.

Dr. Webb-Walker, who has served as president of Kennedy-King College since 2022, received the award at the annual Englewood Community Action Council’s Principals Appreciation Breakfast on Friday, October 25, where Chancellor Juan Salgado spoke to her leadership.

“Since she took the reins at Kennedy-King College, she has been laser focused on ensuring the college is a welcoming environment and a home for all,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado.

Among her achievements, President Webb-Walker has cultivated strategic partnerships, including an innovative collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, to offer workshops on managing diabetes and helping senior citizens maintain a healthy lifestyle. Thanks to a generous donation from the MacKenzie Scott Foundation, community members can once again learn to swim through continuing education courses, and the college also offers yoga, salsa, and line dancing to Englewood residents.

President Webb-Walker’s award also recognizes her dedication to students’ personal and academic success. She commissioned a study that found 53% of Black men at Kennedy-King are fathers and nearly half of all Kennedy-King students are parents. Now, Kennedy-King offers more courses between 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to accommodate parenting students’ schedules. The college is also actively exploring ways to provide after-school childcare, enabling parents to pursue evening classes and extracurricular activities.

“There’s a saying that you can’t be all things to all people, but I truly believe that community colleges have an obligation to try,” said Dr. Webb-Walker. “We don’t just offer academic programs, but an array of other initiatives and resources that respond to the needs of our community. The Englewood CAC is an important ally that helps us to keep our fingers on the pulse of the community.”

The recognition showcases President Webb-Walker’s efforts to position Kennedy-King as a center of opportunity and empowerment for students, their families, and the entire Englewood community.

CACs are a part of a Chicago Public Schools Initiative to bring together families, school administrators, teachers, staff, and community stakeholders to support the improvement of local education.