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Democracys College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice and Excellence for AllAuthor: Office of Community College Research & Leadership, University of Illinois
This monthly podcast focuses on P-20 education pathways with a focus on research and leadership that promotes educational equity, justice and excellence for all students. This podcast is a product of the Office of Community College Research and Leadership, or OCCRL, at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Learn more about OCCRL at occrl.illinois.edu. Language: en Genres: Education Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Micro-Urban Colleges, Quality Credentials, and Equity for Black Learners
Episode 73
Wednesday, 28 January, 2026
Community colleges in micro-urban spaces (small cities with big-city dynamics) play a pivotal role in expanding access, strengthening workforce pathways, and advancing equity for Black learners. In this conversation, Dr. Terry Vaughan III highlights how these communities offer unique advantages, such as concentrated resources, reduced geographic barriers, and strong anchor institutions that can drive economic mobility. He explains to host Gianina Baker how the shift toward skills-based hiring reframes the value of credentials, emphasizing the competencies, experiences, and outcomes they represent. Vaughan also outlines his job duties at Workcred, where he focuses on building a national system of high-quality credentials, work-based learning, and transparent data to better align education with the needs of the labor market.
