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Kudos to Cook County Higher Education for its 25th year in operation. Over the years it has taken the work of the community and many staff members to keep the program growing and moving forward. Today the staff are from L-R: Karen Blackburn, executive director; Andrea Beres, office and website administrator; Kelsey Rogers Kennedy, associate director-program director; Carly Puch, outreach coordinator; and Lena Stever, student support coordinator. Puch, Stever, and Rogers Kennedy are all graduates of Cook County High School. Photos submitted by CCHE
Carly Puch, CCHE Outreach Coordinator
For 25 years Cook County Higher Education (CCHE) has served the North Shore of Cook County, Minnesota. In 1996, the non-profit was created to address four critical issues the community was facing: extreme isolation, skilled worker shortages, limited career advancement, and lack of higher education opportunities.
In the last twenty-five years CCHE has worked hard to address these issues. Programming has expanded to include college preparation services, lifelong learning opportunities, and training and development events. CCHE strives to offer a variety of educational opportunities to the community so that everyone can reap the advantages of “Education Where You Live.”
CCHE has been a leader in Cook County for twenty five years, stepping up for our community during COVID-19 by pivoting to online presentations, providing laptops to people working or schooling from home, and expanding our support services to accommodate the new challenges folks were navigating.
Paula Sundet Wolf, Ph.D. began her career with CCHE in 1997 as a college student helping other distance education students. Over the years, with the support of many active board members, Paula Sundet Wolf and Kirsten van den Berg built the foundation of today’s Cook County Higher Education program.
Most recently, when George Floyd was murdered, CCHE created an Anti-Racism Committee to examine our programs, policies, and procedures to identify how to bring a framework of anti-racism to the organization. From there, a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Strategic Plan Committee was born.
These are some ways in which CCHE adjusts and reassesses to fit our community’s needs, measuring our success through the feedback we receive from our stakeholders:
“With help from CCHE, I will be able to take full time classes this semester, and I will be able to focus much more on school without the financial stress. Especially in these uncertain times, it is amazing to be given such a generous opportunity to further my education. Thank you CCHE!”
“It was great to hear how a campus is building and institutionalizing an anti-racist culture.” Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation with Hamline University Attendee
“Having a person of indigenous heritage including language and critical analytical skills present was most helpful for me.” Building of Modern Tribal Nations Attendee
“The class and the instructor were great. I felt safe during both sections of the class. I really enjoyed and appreciated it!” Chainsaw and Tree Felling Safety Attendee
For twenty-five years we have been collecting stories from community members that have utilized our services. As we move through our 25th Anniversary year, we will bring you some of these stories in an effort to highlight that Cook County Higher Education’s services are for everyone.
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