UNIVERSITY VILLAGE — Fresh off his Grammy win, Chicago-bred rapper Common will deliver the City Colleges of Chicago commencement speech at UIC this May.
The commencement will kick off at noon May 2 at the UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine Ave. Prior to the ceremony, Common will meet with a small group of graduates, according to a press release.
A South Side native, Common said he can relate to City Colleges graduates "who have overcome many obstacles to achieve success."
"I want them to know that I’m an example of how hard work can lead to dreams coming true," he said.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the rapper is one of the city's most inspiring ambassadors.
“After achieving so much success, Common has made it his mission to give back to the City of Chicago so there is no better person to inspire a new class of graduates to keep pursuing their passions and discovering their potential," he said.
Born Lonnie Rashid Lynn and raised in the city's Calumet Heights neighborhood, Common has won multiple Grammy Awards, as well as the 2015 Academy Award, 2015 Golden Globe Award, 2015 NAACP Award, 2015 Independent Spirit Award and 2015 Critic’s Choice Award for his work on the theme song and soundtrack for the movie "Selma."
He has also starred in movies including "Selma," "American Gangster," "Wanted" and "Smokin' Aces," among others.
As a hip hop artist, Common recorded 10 studio albums, winning multiple Grammy Awards.
In 2000, the rapper/actor/author launched The Common Ground Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the empowerment and development of disadvantaged youth in urban communities by mentoring in three areas: character development, creative expression and healthy living.
In September, Common helped host AAHH! Fest, a music festival supporting his foundation and non-profit Donda’s House in Union Park.
City Colleges of Chicago, the largest community college system in Illinois, serves 115,000 students annually at seven colleges and six satellite sites. The seven colleges include: Richard J. Daley College, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Harry S Truman College, Harold Washington College and Wilbur Wright College.
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