For eight years, Darcy stood at the front of a middle school science classroom, guiding students through labs and lessons. But when the pandemic forced her into remote teaching, she found herself both burnt out and unexpectedly drawn to the technology she was using.

When Simiat first heard about City Colleges of Chicago’s Early College Program as a junior at Dr. Martin Luther King College Prep High School, she knew it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.

For Angel, a college education has always been a personal goal and a family milestone.

For Tyler, City Colleges provided more than a degree—it gave her a community and a sense of direction.

For Dean Alicia J. Rodriguez, leading the Arturo Velasquez Institute (AVI) is deeply personal. Having grown up in the Little Village neighborhood, she’s driven by a mission to expand access to education for adult learners and families seeking a better future in her community. 

Bridgette Jones began her academic journey in Tucson, Arizona, pursuing a nursing degree at her local community college.