This morning’s New York Times had a “Corner Office” interview with Geoffrey Canada, president and CEO of non-profit Harlem Children’s Zone. Canada is a visionary leader who recognized that in order to change the outcomes for poor, black youth, he needed to provide them with the same tools and opportunities available to upper-class children from beforeContinue reading “Leading Change”
Author Archives: Don Laackman
Welcome to the Spotlight
Please engage in a thought experiment with me. You are the Mayor of Chicago. You have an opportunity to talk to the Economic Club of Chicago (ECC). ECC members are the corporate elite of Chicago – CEOs, Chairmen, Directors, and Managing Partners and Directors of companies such as Walgreens, Aon, McDonalds, Accenture, JP Morgan Chase,Continue reading “Welcome to the Spotlight”
Credentials of Economic Value
My experience with many workforce efforts has led me to conclude that without the involvement of businesses, any efforts to educate people for jobs are fruitless. Just as we need better alignment of curriculum from high school to college in order to smooth the transition and better prepare students for college-level work, we need betterContinue reading “Credentials of Economic Value”
Phi Theta Kappa Faculty Appreciation
Phi Theta Kappa is showing some faculty love with coffee, yogurt, fruit and goodies in the lobby today. Thanks to Phi Theta Kappa leadership for making this happen.
HWC X-Factor
Tonight I get to fulfill a dream by serving as one of the judges for HWC’s X-Factor talent competition. Starting at 5 pm, HWC’s best will be competing for the right to call themselves . . . well, I haven’t been briefed on the grand prize, but I am sure it is something outstanding. MyContinue reading “HWC X-Factor”
Thanksgiving
The elevator doors opened on our way down. Six effervescent young women entered. One, recognizing me, said with a laugh, “We’re WICKED.” I knew WICKED was a new student group. I asked what the acronym stood for. “Women Integrating Culture, Knowledge and Ethnic Diversity.” The doors opened again, and five of the six women left,Continue reading “Thanksgiving”
Like Water for Chocolate
Kudos to the HWC Student Government Association for the delicious scheduling irony of sponsoring both the Chocolate Party and the Health Fair on the same day. The ELL Chocolate Party packed a lot of students, faculty and staff into 203, pumped up loud music, and stuffed everybody with chocolate. It was, as you may imagine,Continue reading “Like Water for Chocolate”
Scooped
I have been scooped on our home turf by our crack marketing team. They alerted me to an article in a University of South Dakota student newspaper highlighting Professor Tom Higgins’ Estee Lecture Series talk, titled “The Impact of an Early Research Experience on Community College Students and Their Faculty Members,” tonight. I have to ask ifContinue reading “Scooped”
Alumni Success Story
Charles McSweeney tipped me off to this article in the Windy City Times regarding a UCAN (Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network’s) fundraiser on November 3. The highlight of the evening, according to the author, was a speech by an HWC alum. “The UCAN LGBT Host Home graduate spent 15 months in his host home while he finished hisContinue reading “Alumni Success Story”
A Really Good Essay
Harold Washington College is featured in this great article in the Sun-Times about CPS students enrolling at City Colleges of Chicago. Andre Ellis, HWC student, calls his course “challenging,” and he says that he is learning to write “a really good essay.” In another article, this time in the Chicago Tribune (coincidence? or was a certainContinue reading “A Really Good Essay”
Don's Desk 