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I chose to study off-campus because I often wondered whether months and months spent in a liberal-arts bubble were really preparing me for "real life." The ACM Chicago Urban Studies program didn’t just prepare me for that real life, but made me a full participant in Chicago social movements and structures. As I left the program, I felt empowered to be part of whichever community I inhabit, and to understand how to approach that role in a bigger picture. I am also now conscious of the constant interaction between my privilege and marginalized communities. The Urban Studies program made me a real citizen of Chicago and the world. I met people in their real context, often without the usual safety nets. I tested my own values and reached concrete goals. Above all, it reminded me to dignify all humanity.
—Eric Anderson, Chicago Urban Studies, Spring 2009
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