E58: Partnering for Progress: How KRA and Malcolm X College Empower Learners

In this episode, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Dean Barbara Goodall Meschino, MSW, LSW, Dean of the West Side Learning Center at Malcolm X College, City Colleges of Chicago, to explore how strategic partnerships between KRA, the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, and community colleges are revolutionizing workforce development in Chicago. Dean Meschino shares her journey from social work to higher education leadership and discusses how real-world, hands-on training programs—like CNA, medical assisting, and specialized digital simulations—are boosting access, equity, and economic mobility in historically underserved neighborhoods. Discover how their collaborative “Community Day” outreach, flexible learning options, and trust-building initiatives are creating a seamless bridge between education and employment, driving collective impact for students, families, and the broader community.