Funded by the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation
Application is closed. The application will re-open in Spring 2026 for the fourth cohort.
Photo credit: Chicago Public Library Timuel D. Black Jr. Digital Collection
“I get up every morning and say, 'What am I going to do today to make the world a better place?' " —Timuel D. Black Jr
The Timuel Black Scholarship & Fellowship (TBSF) 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.
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, as well as their knowledge of Chicago social movements and local history. With the commitment to social justice and racial equity, the program will uphold the values of Mr. Black and empower students to affect positive change in their communities.
Originally from Alabama, Mr. Timuel Black attended Burke Elementary and DuSable High School in Chicago. Mr. Black was 23 years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed which led him to serve during World War II. He would return from the war and attend Roosevelt University, later receiving a master’s degree from the University of Chicago.
In 1960, Mr. Black worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he came to Chicago to protest housing issues for West Side residents. Mr. Black would go on to help organize thousands of Chicagoans to join the historic March on Washington with Dr. King.
After serving as a Chicago Public Schools teacher, Mr. Black was appointed dean of Wright College in 1969; and held several other roles at City Colleges over the next twenty years, including vice president for academic affairs at Olive-Harvey College, director and chairperson of community affairs, and a professor at Loop College which changed its name to Harold Washington College, in part due to Mr. Black’s influence and advocacy, retiring in 1989.
Mr. Black was instrumental in helping elect Chicago’s first Black Mayor, Harold Washington and the first Black woman elected as a U.S. Senator, Carol Mosely Braun. Later he consulted with then, community organizer, Barack Obama about running for the U.S. Presidency.
Program Mission:
The Timuel D. Black Jr. Fellowship empowers students to grow as scholars, leaders, and changemakers by building on the legacy of justice, service, leadership, and community that Mr. Black dedicated his life to. Through academic support, civic engagement, community service, and cultural exploration, fellows develop the knowledge, skills, and values to honor the struggles of the past, thrive in the present, and shape solutions for the future.
Fellows will:
City Colleges of Chicago students who:
Are currently enrolled with six credit hours or more and will be working toward a credential at City Colleges for both Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters
Have an interest in civil rights, community activism, and being a changemaker in our communities
Can commit to the monthly and ongoing activities of the Fellowship throughout the school year
Questions? Contact tdblackfellowship@ccc.edu
How You Can Support the Next Generation of Civic Leaders?
Why Your Support Matters: The Timuel D. Black Jr. Scholarship & Fellowship Program equips City Colleges students with financial support, leadership training, and civic engagement opportunities that honor Mr. Black’s legacy. Together with partners, we prepare fellows to serve Chicago’s communities and carry forward a tradition of justice and equity.
Ways to Get Involved
