The Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) celebrates the 10th Anniversary of The Odyssey Project at this special bilingual graduation ceremony for the class of 2010 from all four Odyssey courses in Chicago: North Side, South Side, Spanish language, and the Bridge Course. Alumni from the past ten years and Odyssey teachers, supporters, and funders are also recognized at this special event.

History teacher and fourth ward Alderman of the Chicago City Council Toni Preckwinkle gives the keynote address.

The Odyssey Project is a free, eight-month program of college-level humanities courses for people living in poverty. Students in the class of 2010 took classes from September through May at the Donoghue School in the Oakland neighborhood on the South Side, the Howard Area Community Center in Rogers Park on the North Side, and in Spanish at the Gads Hill Center in the Pilsen neighborhood.

Toni Preckwinkle has been a community leader for over two decades. For 10 years she served as a high school history teacher and is currently Alderman of the 4th Ward. She is married and the mother of two children. She holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Chicago. For more about Toni Preckwinkle, read her bio at cityofchicago.org.

Recorded Sunday, May 23, 2010 at National Museum of Mexican Art.