Legislature Honors Bunker Hill Community College for Ex-Offender Initiative
Thursday, August 22, 2013
The Massachusetts House of Representatives recognized Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) with a special citation for the College’s three-year commitment to provide training for those working in the state’s ex-offender and reentry programs.
In an August 14 ceremony at the College, Representative Eugene L. O’Flaherty, who represents Charlestown and Chelsea, presented the citation, which praised BHCC for “giving people a second chance by giving them employment opportunities.” Dean of Professional Studies Bogusia Wojciechowska accepted the award on behalf of the College.
The Bunker Hill Community College Reentry Collaborative was established in 2010 by BHCC Professor Arthur M. Centanni and David Sullivan, director of reentry services for the Massachusetts Parole Board. The collaborative, housed in the BHCC Department of Legal Studies and Public Safety, is composed of members of the Department of Correction, the Massachusetts Parole Board and other private and public organizations. Since its founding, the collaborative has provided training for more than 400 individuals who assist ex-offenders in reentering society.
“When [ex-offenders] are provided an opportunity for employment, that gives them the ability to start making right decisions,” said O’Flaherty, chair of the House Judiciary Committee. “It’s in our collective best interest to make sure they have the skills and ability to move themselves forward.”
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About Bunker Hill Community College
With more than 50 years of academic excellence, Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is Massachusetts' largest community college, annually welcoming a diverse community of around 16,000 students. With campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, BHCC extends its reach across several locations in Greater Boston. The College offers associate degrees and certificates, early college and dual enrollment, community education, corporate training, and industry-specific training programs. BHCC is celebrated for its diversity, boasting a student body where 65% identify as people of color and more than half are women. The College also embraces a global perspective, with over 600 international students representing 90 countries and conversing in more than 65 languages. Our commitment to diversity is further reflected in BHCC's designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).