All In: Student Pathways Forward

Mt. Hood Community College & ACCT - Student Bakr Alkarawi & President Dr. Lisa Skari; Association of Community College Trustees Director of Government Relations, Katie Brown

June 07, 2021 Marc Goldberg Season 1 Episode 103
All In: Student Pathways Forward
Mt. Hood Community College & ACCT - Student Bakr Alkarawi & President Dr. Lisa Skari; Association of Community College Trustees Director of Government Relations, Katie Brown
Show Notes

This episode features a conversation with Mt. Hood Community College student Bakr Alkarawi, who shares how his own experience as a student facing housing insecurity has propelled him to take action and work with college leadership, policymakers and community partners towards a bill in the Oregon legislature that would fund services and support for students facing houselessness. Bakr offers helpful perspective on what resources and staffing support have assisted him while taking GED and college-level coursework at Mt. Hood including the STEP grant, MHCC Foundation scholarships, and guidance from key faculty and staff along the way. 

Mt. Hood Community College President, Dr. Lisa Skari, discusses different strategies the college has taken to address student basic needs insecurity integrating student voices in this work. 

Lastly, Katie Brown, Director of Government Relations, at the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), talks about the current federal policy landscape related to community colleges and addressing students’ unmet financial need. This community college priorities document from ACCT (and AACC) for the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan legislation is a helpful summary and guide from the conversation with Katie.