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Olive-Harvey College alumnus Dajuan Matthews has not let any obstacle stand in his way.
Olive-Harvey College alumnus Dajuan Matthews has not let any obstacle stand in his way. Drawn to Olive-Harvey through Project Evolve, a tuition-free scholarship program, he began his studies online but quickly realized he wanted to be more engaged on campus. Dajuan reinstated the African American Studies Association, which helped him connect with classmates and become an active part of the Olive-Harvey community.
Along the way, he leaned on campus resources—whether it was finding support to get to class or even getting his gas turned back on. What he values most is the camaraderie.
“People at Olive-Harvey genuinely ask how you’re doing,” he says.
Dajuan is now studying computer science at Chicago State University. He credits networking and building relationships as vital tools in his success.
For Dean Alicia J. Rodriguez, leading the Arturo Velasquez Institute (AVI) is deeply personal. Having grown up in the Little Village neighborhood, she’s driven by a mission to expand access to education for adult learners and families seeking a better future in her community.
