Part II Portland Community College (PCC) & Lumina Foundation - PCC Student Shalease Williams and President Mark Mitsui; Lumina Foundation Strategy Director Kermit Kaleba

This is part II of this All In: Student Pathways Forward episode that includes the second half of an interview by host Marc Goldberg with Portland Community College (PCC) President Mark Mitsui and then a conversation with Kermit Kaleba, the Strategy Director for Employer Aligned Credential Programs at Lumina Foundation.

Both President Mitsui and Kermit share reflections on the featured interview in part I with PCC Career Pathways student Shalease Williams. President Mitsui speaks further on the systemic barriers students face and how the statewide Pathways to Opportunity Initiative is helping Oregon community college students maximize benefits and resources, especially students experiencing basic needs insecurity.

Kermit discusses the Lumina Foundation’s commitment to racial equity and how the Foundation is investing in various state and college projects that support adult students in earning quality stackable credentials leading to good jobs. He highlights great work in Oregon with the STEP (SNAP Employment and Training) grant in which Shalease and many other students have accessed while taking coursework at the community college. 

The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon’s participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.