Covering racial inequity in higher education for WBEZ Chicago and Open Campus Media. I love making radio. Like, LOVE it. https://bsky.app/profile/lkpwrites.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/lkpwrites.bsky.social/post/3mfox2t5ni227"Why are we asking the people with the least power to figure out something? Don't ask these boys. Ask the people who can show up." Thank you, Cortez Watson Jr. of the Black Star Project, for setting me straight. @wbez.org @opencampus.org #college #chicago https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/02/25/mentors-can-make-the-difference-for-young-black-men-in-college-heres-how-to-be-a-good-one25 Feb 2026 14:59 +0000at://did:plc:lmsfihzu2j6rstffbz7at2h5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfox2t5ni227https://bsky.app/profile/lkpwrites.bsky.social/post/3me2u6dmo222dMy latest for @wbez.org and @opencampus.org about the painting over a trans flag with an alleged hate symbol and Northwestern University's decision not to intervene. https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/02/04/trans-students-felt-threatened-by-this-symbol-of-the-far-right-why-didnt-northwestern-intervene04 Feb 2026 21:49 +0000at://did:plc:lmsfihzu2j6rstffbz7at2h5/app.bsky.feed.post/3me2u6dmo222dhttps://bsky.app/profile/lkpwrites.bsky.social/post/3mcxhbzje7c2fI wonder how #IL universities who have backed away from #DEI programs will respond. Will they reinstate initiatives? I'm thinking of the University of Illinois system, for instance, which in October banned the consideration of #race/#gender in scholarship decisions. [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Jan 2026 19:55 +0000at://did:plc:lmsfihzu2j6rstffbz7at2h5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcxhbzje7c2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/lkpwrites.bsky.social/post/3mchsqkt7mk2aThe #Trump administration is starting to seize people's pay to cover their defaulted student loans. More than 177,000 #IL residents are at risk. Here's how you can prevent this situation - or try to get out of it. @opencampus.org @wbez.org #studentdebt https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/01/15/what-to-know-if-youre-behind-on-student-loans-at-risk-of-default-and-wage-garnishment-in-illinois15 Jan 2026 14:38 +0000at://did:plc:lmsfihzu2j6rstffbz7at2h5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mchsqkt7mk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/lkpwrites.bsky.social/post/3madwonuoec23It has been a rollercoaster of a year, both personally and professionally (a 🧵). I went from attending my close college friend's memorial to reporting on Trump's attacks on programs that have helped people I love both go to college & feel like they belong there. (1/?) https://www.wbez.org/education/2025/02/20/uic-cultural-centers-and-race-based-college-programs-across-illinois-threatened-by-latest-trump-guidance19 Dec 2025 14:47 +0000at://did:plc:lmsfihzu2j6rstffbz7at2h5/app.bsky.feed.post/3madwonuoec23https://bsky.app/profile/lkpwrites.bsky.social/post/3mabn3olo2s2x“I haven’t been there through Pastor Brown’s whole life, but at least I know that he’s been through some things,” Gates said of Brown. “You have to go through … some type of trial in life to be able to show me that you’re worth that ‘mentor’ status.” https://www.wbez.org/education/2025/12/18/in-austin-neighborhood-of-chicago-black-mentors-are-making-college-possible18 Dec 2025 16:50 +0000at://did:plc:lmsfihzu2j6rstffbz7at2h5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mabn3olo2s2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/lkpwrites.bsky.social/post/3mabh3oxkuk27From @sammiesmylie.bsky.social at Chalkbeat: Illinois quietly changes scholarship for teachers of color amid lawsuit, threats from federal government https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/12/17/illinois-teacher-diversity-scholarship-changes/ https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/12/17/illinois-teacher-diversity-scholarship-changes/?utm_source=Chalkbeat&utm_campaign=f735211be1-Chicago+Illinois+quietly+changes+scholarship+for+t&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9091015053-f735211be1-1296412682&mc_cid=f735211be1&mc_eid=682de7fa9d18 Dec 2025 15:03 +0000at://did:plc:lmsfihzu2j6rstffbz7at2h5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mabh3oxkuk27https://bsky.app/profile/lkpwrites.bsky.social/post/3m5mm7lzdo22jHighlight of my week: Calling into @wbez.org's Say More to chat with Hari Kondabolu about how Indians really do f***ing love mangoes, what journalists can learn from comedians in these dark times and the most common mispronunciation of his name (Hasan Minhaj 😂) https://www.wbez.org/say-more-with-mary-dixon-patrick-smith/2025/11/14/hari-kondabolu-whats-so-funny-about-chicago14 Nov 2025 21:18 +0000at://did:plc:lmsfihzu2j6rstffbz7at2h5/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5mm7lzdo22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/lkpwrites.bsky.social/post/3m5mkqwtyqc2hThis week #IL students and faculty delivered stacks of postcards to the state higher education board asking for $25M meant for their public universities to be released. Their colleges have been squeezed by federal cuts, decreases in international students and decades of declining state funding.14 Nov 2025 20:52 +0000at://did:plc:lmsfihzu2j6rstffbz7at2h5/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5mkqwtyqc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/lkpwrites.bsky.social/post/3m5er3lpbws2xYoung people in #Chicago age 18-29 can apply to be part of a Civic Matchmaking program run by Chicago Votes and The Civic Success Project. More info here:11 Nov 2025 18:24 +0000at://did:plc:lmsfihzu2j6rstffbz7at2h5/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5er3lpbws2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/lkpwrites.bsky.social/post/3m5ckysraf22rStop what you're doing and read this piece by @vanessalop.bsky.social: "I carry the weight of his sacrifice while navigating the gaping hole left by his departure. I am the daughter who made it, who did better while knowing that “better” came with a cost." https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2025/11/10/deportation-immigration-mexico-indiana-parents-fathers-ice-vanessa-lopez10 Nov 2025 21:30 +0000at://did:plc:lmsfihzu2j6rstffbz7at2h5/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5ckysraf22r