November 16, 2023

Duckworth Meets with Chicagoland Predominately Black Institutions to Discuss Importance of Higher Education for All

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Chicago State University President Zaldwaynaka Scott, Prairie State College President Michael Anthony, South Suburban College President Lynette Stokes and Olive-Harvey College Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives Aziza Darwish to discuss her work to make higher education more affordable, increase federal support for higher education institutions and help create more pathways for Illinoisans to jumpstart their careers. Duckworth and the officials, who all represent Predominantly Black Institutions, also discussed the systemic barriers to higher education that Black students too often face. Photo of the meeting are available on the Senator’s website. 

“Predominantly Black Institutions are not just places to educate America’s students, they are so much more,” said Duckworth. “They’re reminders of the resilience of Black Americans through years of discrimination in education and they’re places of community, culture and history. Today’s meeting with leaders from Illinois’s coalition of Predominantly Black Institutions was a great opportunity to discuss my support for eliminating barriers and discrimination in higher education and the federal resources these institutions need in the future.”

Duckworth has continuously worked to increase federal support for higher education and workforce development. Last month, Duckworth helped introduce bicameral legislation to make two-year technical and community college accessible to more Americans by waiving tuition for eligible students. The America’s College Promise Act of 2023 will make the skills and credentials necessary to succeed in our economy more accessible to all students by creating a new federal-state partnership to provide two years of tuition-free community or technical college.

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