Community College Project
Engagement
Beyond Stories
Pairing accountability with community connection
We’re developing community partnerships, resources, and tools to deepen the impact of our journalism and ensure people have the independent information they need to thrive.
This work comes in the form of listening sessions, focus groups, events, and interactive data tools. We’ve convened a Community College Advisory Council, experts who share ideas, feedback, and connections to help us improve news and information about education and work at the local level.
Data Tools
Which short-term programs pay off?
Use our Certificate Earnings Explorer to see what people earned four years after getting a certificate at 5,600 different programs around the country.
Convening experts
Community College Advisory Council
A mix of people from different fields and vantages, these council members inform our work. The advisory council has no role in governance or fiduciary oversight.
• Emily Brown, Microsoft
• Goldie Blumenstyk, Open Campus
• Sue Cross, news media advisor
• John Fink, Community College Research Center
• Sameer Gadkaree, Fount
• Michael Itzkowitz, The HEA Group
• Stephanie Khurana, Axim Collaborative
• Jordan Matsudaira, American University
• Christopher Mullin, Lumina Foundation
• Iris Palmer, New America
• Julie Peller, Peller Strategies
• Zakiya Smith Ellis, ZSE Strategy Ventures
• Jason Tyszko, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
LISTENING PROGRAMS
Hearing directly from communities
Community listening is a key part of how we work in communities. Together with our partner newsrooms and community partners, we hold a variety of sessions to learn what community members want to know about higher education and workforce training in their communities.
Community councils meet monthly to discuss topics in depth, focus groups share their specific perspectives, and listening sessions provide opportunities for Q&A with reporters and editors. Through this work, we aim to build trust, test new formats, and provide better support to our partner newsrooms and communities.
Let’s Talk
We’re looking for community partners
We’re building networks that connect accountability journalism to the people positioned to use it.
We want to work with people invested in improving access to information about education and work in their communities. Some examples of these community partners might be libraries, school districts, student groups, civic organizations, and workforce leaders.
If you’d like to work with us or have an idea about how higher education could work better where you live, we want to hear from you. Reach out to Caroline Porter, Director of Product & Strategic Partnerships.