Kenneth G. Balcarcel, Director of Compliance for Adult Education in the District Office, has been selected for the 2026 Multicultural Leadership Academy (MLA), a competitive professional development program led by the Latino Policy Forum that brings together changemakers from across Illinois.
Kenneth is one of 25 leaders statewide chosen for the 2026 cohort to participate in the eight-month academy. The academy is intended to equip participants with the skills, relationships, and understanding to strengthen collaboration between Black and Latine communities, advance equitable policy solutions, and drive meaningful social change.
“At City Colleges of Chicago, we understand that bringing people together is not a sentimental goal, but a structural necessity,” Kenneth shared. “We operate on the fundamental truth that when we bridge the gap between communities, we aren’t just managing programs—we are building the infrastructure of social change that propels our city. I look forward to this opportunity to strengthen the networks that serve our students, remembering that the only progress worth measuring is the kind that carries all of our communities forward.”
Since 2009, the Latino Policy Forum has cultivated more than 320 community leaders from over 200 organizations through the Multicultural Leadership Academy. Each year, a panel of alumni reviews more than 100 applications to select a cohort of leaders who are deeply engaged in social change and community development. Kenneth’s selection reflects City Colleges’ ongoing commitment to leadership that bridges communities, centers inclusion, and drives systemic change.
Through the MLA, Kenneth will collaborate with leaders from nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, advocacy groups, and community-based organizations across Illinois—bringing back insights, strategies, and partnerships that strengthen City Colleges’ impact on students and the communities it serves.
