TANISHA: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "BASIC BLACK."

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST AND OTHERS OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

I'’M TANISHA SULLIVAN, YOUR HOST.

TONIGHT, WE'’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND BLACK AMERICANS'’ TRUST IN THE NEWS.

THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER RECENTLY RELEASED A SURVEY FINDING THAT BLACK AMERICANS BELIEVE THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE BY THE MEDIA WHEN COVERING BLACK AMERICANS IN THE NEWS.

RON MITCHELL IS THE CO-OWNER, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF THE "BAY STATE BANNER," AND HE JOINS ME REMOTELY TO DISCUSS THE PEW SURVEY.

HI, RON.

RONALD: GOOD MORNING.

TANISHA: HOW ARE YOU?

RONALD: WONDERFUL.

TANISHA: ACCORDING TO THIS STUDY OF ABOUT 5000 SELF IDENTIFIED BLACK AMERICANS AROUND THE COUNTRY, FOLKS BELIEVE THAT THE MEDIA HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING AND RESTORING TRUST AMONG BLACK AMERICANS.

WE KNOW THAT, YOU LEAD ONE OF THE NATIONS OLDEST BLACK NEWSPAPERS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

RON: I THINK THE SURVEY IS SPOT ON.

IT REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE TRENDS IN OUR INDUSTRY, BEING A JOURNALIST FOR SO MANY YEARS.

I WATCH THE NEWS CHANGE FROM WHAT I WOULD CALL PRODUCER DRIVEN WHERE REAL STORIES WERE TOLD TO BEING DRIVEN BY CLICKS AND THE MOST OF RESPONSES YOU CAN GET, THAT IS WHAT DRIVES THE STORY.

WHEN YOU ATTACH IT TO THE MOST EMOTIONAL PART OF THE STORY, YOU ALWAYS SKEW THE ACTIONS WITHIN THE STORY.

FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WE SUFFER FROM THAT.

IT IS EASY TO SAY THAT THE BLACK GUY DID IT, ALL THE STEREOTYPES.

IN THE MID-2018 WHEN THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT BECAME MORE VOLATILE, ALL THESE NEW NETWORKS CAME OUT THAT WERE BASICALLY RACE BAITING AND TRYING TO MOVE A POLITICAL AGENDA BY BLAMING AND STEREOTYPING AND SCAPEGOATING.

WE AS AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BLACK AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE A BAD TASTE IN OUR MOUTH FROM THE TRENDS.

WHAT WE SEE AFTER GEORGE FLOYD IS THAT A LOT OF MAJOR NEWS ROOMS ARE TRYING TO GET AND HIRE MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS BEHIND THE SCENES.

IF YOU ARE IN THE NEWSROOM, HELPING TO PRODUCE THE NEWS, YOU CHANGE THE WAY THE NEWS IS PRESENTED.

BUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS HAVE A VERY STRONG BACKBONE AND HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY AND A BIG RESPONSIBILITY.

IT IS GOOD THE NETWORK IS STILL THERE BECAUSE THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA, THEY ARE STILL A WAYS TO GO TO REALLY MAKE THE NEWS ABOUT US AND OUR COMMUNITY, FAIR AND BALANCED.

TANISHA: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS INTERESTING TO ME COMING OUT OF THIS SURVEY IS, OF COURSE, WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, THERE IS A DESIRE FOR THERE TO BE NEWS PRESENTED FROM ALL PERSPECTIVES, ALL SIDES OF AN ISSUE.

BUT OF NOTE IS THIS HOLDS TRUE ACROSS POLITICAL IDEOLOGY.

REGARDLESS OF HOW BLACK AMERICANS IDENTIFY POLITICALLY, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, LIBERTARIAN, WHAT HAVE YOU, WE ALL WANT NEWS PRESENTED IN AN OBJECTIVE MANNER, GIVING US THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.

HOW ARE YOU WORKING TO ENSURE THAT IS THE CASE AT THE BAY STATE BANNER?

RON: WE HAVE A DIVERSE SET OF REPORTERS AND WE DRILL DOWN ON STORIES.

WE ARE WEEKLY, SO WE ARE DIFFERENT THAN DAILY WHERE EVERY SINGLE STORY HAS TO BE STARTED IN THE MORNING OR FINISHED IN THE AFTERNOON.

WE ARE ALLOWED TO TALK TO MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND MAKE A MORE WELL-BALANCED STORY.

AND REALLY DRILL DOWN ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THE FRANKLIN PARK AREA, THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM STATEWIDE.

THERE'’S A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES AND WE REALLY TRY TO IDENTIFY THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY AND TELL THE TRUE PERSPECTIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

TANISHA: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THE MEDIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT, AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND CERTAINLY AS THE WORLD CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AND THERE CONTINUES TO BE SO MANY ISSUES IMPACTING NOT ONLY THE BLACK COMMUNITY, BUT OUR COMMUNITIES AT LARGE, BUILDING TRUST AND MEDIA WILL REMAIN IMPORTANT.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING YOUR WORK WITH THE BAY STATE BANNER.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US TODAY.

RON: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

TANISHA: NOW TO OUR MAIN DISCUSSION.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE GIVES ALL STUDENTS, AND IN PARTICULAR STUDENTS OF COLOR, A CHANCE TO ADVANCE IN THEIR CAREERS AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, RESIDENTS 25 AND OLDER WITHOUT A DEGREE CAN APPLY TO ATTEND COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR FREE THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED MASS RE-CONNECT.

WE HAVE A DYNAMIC GROUP OF PANELISTS TO DISCUSS THE NEW INITIATIVE HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND HOW IT COULD CHANGE THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR MANY STUDENTS OF COLOR.

JOINING US TONIGHT, JACKIE JENKINS SCOTT, INTERIM PRESIDENT OF ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

DR. PATRICK TUTWILER, MASSACHUSETTS SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.

DR. PAM EDDINGER, PRESIDENT OF BUNKER HILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

SHE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE GBH BOARD.

AND NEHEMIE DESULME, A ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN MASS RECONNECT.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU.

TANISHA: IT IS EXCITING.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION.

THIS PROGRAM, DR. TUTWILER, WAS ACTUALLY DISCUSSED, HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR MANY YEARS.

THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM, BUT THIS YEAR, GOVERNOR HEALY ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF MASS RECONNECT WITH GREAT HOPE AND PROMISE.

COULD YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT WITH US ABOUT WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS AND EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT, WHAT IS THE INTENDED IMPACT?

SEC.

TUTWILER: FIRST, THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE.

IT IS GREAT TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND THIS INCREDIBLE STUDENT.

THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO THINK ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

I WILL TAKE OFF MY EDUCATOR HAT AND TALK ABOUT IT FIRST AS A WORKFORCE INITIATIVE.

I THINK NO MATTER WHAT DIRECTION YOU LOOK, WHAT NEWSPAPER YOU PICK UP, WHAT NEWS YOU WATCH, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IN VIRTUALLY EVERY SECTOR, THERE'’S A WORKFORCE CHALLENGE.

FOLKS ARE DIRE FOR STAFF.

I WOULD SAY ON THE OTHERS, AS YOU LOOK AT THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION RESIDENTS WHO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT.

WITHIN THAT ONE MILLION RESIDENTS, THERE ARE 700,000 WHO HAVE SOME COLLEGE BUT NOT EARNED A DEGREE.

SO, YOU HAVE A CHALLENGE AND YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, AND WE MARRIED BOTH OF THOSE WITH THIS PROPOSAL WHICH PROVIDES FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR RESIDENTS AGE 25 YEARS AND OLDER WHO HAVE NOT YET EARNED A COLLEGE DEGREE.

WHEN I SAY FREE, I MEAN FREE.

TUITION, FEES, BOOKS, SUPPLIES ARE ALL COVERED BY THIS PROGRAM.

PUTTING MY EDUCATOR HAT BACK ON, WE ARE ALL IN THE BUSINESS OF CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO REALIZE THEIR DREAMS AND WE BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A PATHWAY TO DO THAT.

TANISHA: WONDERFUL.

NEHEMIE, YOU ARE ONE OF THE ENROLLEES THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT WITH US ABOUT HOW YOU HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM?

NEHEMIE: WELL, I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON THIS BEAUTIFUL PANEL.

I HEARD ABOUT IT THROUGH THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE.

THERE WAS A PROGRAM THEY DID IN JANUARY AND HE WAS TELLING ME AS ONE OF THE STUDENTS OF HONOR AT THE SCHOOL, PAYING FOR MY TUITION.

HE WAS THE FIRST TO TELL ME ABOUT IT.

DURING THE SUMMER, WHEN I WENT TO REGISTER FOR FALL AND I SAW ALL OF THE POSTERS IN THE COLLEGE EVERYWHERE, I SAW IT IN THE NEWS, AND I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT THE STATE HAS GIVEN ME, ESPECIALLY AS A BLACK FEMALE, IMMIGRANT FROM HAITI.

IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO PURSUE MY EDUCATION THAT I DON'’T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING, MY BOOKS, MY TUITION.

THAT IS FREE.

TANISHA: SO, WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?

NEHEMIE: MY DREAM IS TO BECOME A LAWYER, SO I AM STUDYING WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THE REASON WHY I WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE THAT PATH IS BECAUSE I SEE SO MANY INJUSTICE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT CHANGE, SO THAT IS WHY I WOULD LIKE TO BE IN THAT FIELD OF WORK.

TANISHA: WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL.

THIS PROGRAM HAS GREAT PROMISE AND WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE TWO OF OUR ESTEEMED PRESIDENTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.

I WILL ACTUALLY START WITH YOU, DR. EDDINGER.

CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THIS IS WORKING ON THE GROUND?

DR. EDDINGER: WELL, IT IS FANTASTIC ON THE GROUND.

WE LOOKED AT SOME NUMBERS, NOW THAT WE ARE FIRMLY IN THE FALL SEMESTER.

WE PACKAGE CLOSE TO 650 STUDENTS, HALF OF WHOM ARE CONTINUING.

SO, THE OPPORTUNITY NOT TO DROP OUT BECAUSE YOU RUN OUT OF MONEY, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.

ONE QUARTER IS COMPLETELY NEW TO US, DRAWING IN FROM THE POOL THAT PROBABLY THE SECRETARY HAS NOTED.

THE OTHER QUARTER ARE FOLKS WHO HAD DROPPED OUT IN THE PAST, TWO, 3, 4 YEARS AGO, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.

SO, WE KNOW EVEN IN THESE EARLY DAYS, THAT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE.

I'’M EXPECTING A WONDERFUL TIDAL WAVE OF FOLKS COMING TO ME IN THE BEGINNING OF SPRING, TO COVER A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AND TO FEED THE WORKFORCE WHICH IS CLEARLY WHAT THE GOVERNOR'’S INTENTION IS AS WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM.

TANISHA: WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK IN AND AROUND THE RCC COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT GEM IT IS.

WHEN YOU, AS YOU ALL HAVE ROLLED OUT THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, HOW HAS MASS RECONNECT REALLY HELPED YOU ADVANCE YOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR RCC?

JACKIE: ONE OF THE THINGS FOR THE COLLEGE IS TO GROW.

WE REALLY ARE THRILLED.

WE HAVE 35% INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT THIS TERM, THIS FALL, SO IT IS VERY EXCITING THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY, THE NURSING OPPORTUNITY THAT THE GOVERNOR ALSO MADE AVAILABLE, ALL NURSING STUDENTS CAN GET FREE TUITION AND BOOKS COVERED.

SO, BETWEEN MASS RECONNECT AND THE FREE NURSING PROGRAM, WE THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE SO MANY STUDENTS WHO HAVE HAD TO DROP OUT BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL REASONS.

THEY CAN NOW COME BACK AND FINISH THEIR DREAM, COMPLETE THEIR DREAM, COMPLETE THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO ADD INCOME FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

IT IS VERY EXCITING.

TANISHA: WE HAVE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, IN AND AROUND THE CITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING IS GETTING THE WORD OUT SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THESE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE.

SO, HOW HAVE YOU AND YOUR TEAM THOUGHT ABOUT GETTING THE WORD OUT, HELPING FOLKS KNOW THAT THESE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST FOR FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION?

JACKIE: ONE OF THE THINGS THE GOVERNOR DID WHICH WE REALLY APPRECIATE IS THEY HAVE CREATED A WHOLE ROLLOUT OF THIS TO ADVERTISE IT AND MAKE SURE THE ENTIRE COMMONWEALTH KNOWS ABOUT IT.

THEY HAVE PROVIDED SOME FUNDS FOR EACH OF OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO ALSO CREATE PROGRAM SPECIFIC TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE.

SO, I ALWAYS SAY IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF OUR COMMUNITY MISSED OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK FROM THE GOVERNOR ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ON THE GROUND COMMUNITY, OUR STAFFS ARE ALL FULLY AWARE OF THIS.

WHEN WE SEE A WONDERFUL STUDENT, WE SAY YOU CAN QUALIFY FOR THIS.

LET'’S MAKE THIS AVAILABLE.

NOW THE THING THAT'’S HAPPENING IS WE WILL RUN OUT OF MONEY BECAUSE THE GOOD THING IS THE WORD IS GETTING OUT.

SO, I THINK THE GOVERNOR AND THE SECRETARY ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT AS WE GET THE WORD OUT AND STUDENTS APPLY AND GET ACCEPTED, WE HAVE ENOUGH SUPPORT TO SUPPORT ALL THE STUDENTS WHO NEED THE SERVICE.

TANISHA: HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS IS NOT ONLY SUSTAINABLE, BUT WE CAN LOOK TO POTENTIALLY EXPANDING IT?

I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE, THERE WERE SOME FOLKS THAT SAID WHY IS IT JUST 25 PLUS, FOLKS WHO ARE 25 PLUS?

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT, WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION THINKING ABOUT AS IT RELATES TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT ALSO THE EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM?

SEC.

TUTWILER: WE STARTED WITH RESIDENTS WHO ARE AGE 25 YEARS AND OLDER BECAUSE THE AVERAGE AGE OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT IS 26.

SO, THAT FELT LIKE AN APPROPRIATE PLACE TO START.

THIS WAS NOT A PLAN THAT WAS HATCHED IN A BACK ROOM.

IT WAS DONE FULLY IN COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENTS AROUND WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE FIRST STEP IN TERMS OF FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

THERE'’S UNANIMITY THAT THE MASS RECONNECT APPROACH WAS AN APPROPRIATE FIRST STEP.

THERE'’S A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FROM THE SENATE ON DOWN AROUND THIS IDEA ABOUT FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR ALL.

THERE WAS AN ALLOCATION IN THIS FISCAL YEAR TO STUDY THAT, TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE WOULD MAKE THAT SO.

THAT WORK IS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD SAY WE ALL SEE THIS AS AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE, WORKFORCE INITIATIVE, ONE THAT SUPPORTS CREATING PATHWAYS FOR RESIDENTS TO EARN A DEGREE AND TO RECOGNIZE CREDENTIAL.

THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

I WILL SAY THAT THE PRESIDENT SAID WE ARE GOING TO RUN OUT OF MONEY.

THAT IS ACTUALLY A GOOD PROBLEM.

WE BUILT THIS ON THE SCIENCE OF FAFSA COMPLETION OF SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WHAT IS AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN?

IF WE EXCEED THAT, THAT'’S A GOOD THING.

TANISHA: SO ON THAT, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IS THIS PROGRAM AS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT.

CERTAINLY, WE KNOW THE DATA TELLS US THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WILL BENEFIT SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THIS TYPE OF PROGRAMMING, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR FOLKS WHO ARE 25 PLUS, MANY OF THE STUDENTS WE KNOW ARE ALREADY WORKING, PART OF WORKING FAMILIES.

HOW ARE YOU AT BUNKER HILL REALLY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO YOUR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE WORKFORCE ALREADY, BALANCING BOTH CAREER AND EDUCATION?

DR. EDDINGER: ABOUT 50%, HALF OF ALL OF THE UNDERGRADUATES IN THE U.S. ARE IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

WE KNOW THAT OUR POPULATION IS DROPPING.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE GOING INTO EITHER COLLEGE OR THE WORKFORCE, AT LEAST 25% LESS OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

WE KNOW OUR GATEWAY CITIES ARE GROWING.

THAT IS WHERE THE POPULATION IS COMING IN AND OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE REALLY THE BACKBONE TO RECEIVE THESE NEW IMMIGRANTS INTO THE WORKFORCE.

WE KNOW WE ARE THE BACKBONE.

YOU ARE RIGHT, HIGHER EDUCATION RIGHT NOW FOR THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE IS A LUXURY GOOD.

ALL THE OPPORTUNITY COSTS IT TAKE FOR THEM TO STOP A PORTION OF THEIR JOB TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL AND SPEND THAT TIME ON TRAINING FOR THESE EMERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, HEALTH CARE, AI, FINTECH, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM DOLLARS IN ORDER TO OFFSET THE OPPORTUNITY COST SO THEY CAN SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY.

SO THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN PARENTS AS WELL AS BEING PARENTS.

THIS IDEA OF HAVING MASS RECONNECT PAY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY COST AND THE COLLEGES PROVIDING WHAT I CALL WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

BASIC NEEDS.

EVERY ONE OF OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS HAVE A FOOD PANTRY.

WE HAVE PROVISIONS FOR CHILD CARE EITHER THROUGH VOUCHERS OR PHYSICAL FACILITIES.

WE DO A LOT OF COACHING.

A LOT OF FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS -- OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS NOT NECESSARILY DESIGNED FOR THEM.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SUPPORTED ON THEIR WAY OUT.

AS MUCH AS IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE STUDENTS COME INTO HAVE ACCESS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE RETAINED.

WE DON'’T WANT TO GET THESE FOLKS CAUGHT IN A REVOLVING DOOR.

WE WANT 100% OF THOSE 700,000 STUDENT TO HAVE SOME COLLEGE AND NO DEGREE TO FINISH.

THAT IS THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE WE DO EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND INTERNSHIPS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THEY ARE CONNECTING WITH BUSINESSES.

THAT REALLY IS THE KEY.

I'’M HOPING OUR WONDERFUL STUDENT WILL BE INTERNING AT A LAW FIRM.

TANISHA: EXACTLY.

FOR YOU, NEHEMIE, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT LAW FIRM EXPERIENCE.

WE WILL GET THAT IN.

BUT ALSO, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW FOR MORE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THIS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO IS THINKING ABOUT GOING BACK, BUT IS A LITTLE BIT HESITANT?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

NEHEMIE: I WOULD TELL THEM THAT THE PROGRAM IS TRUE AND I AM ONE OF THE STUDENTS WHO IS PART OF THE PROGRAM.

I WOULD TELL THEM DON'’T WAIT AND GET ENROLLED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE FIRST STEP IS TO GO TO THE SCHOOL THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO AND GET INFORMATION ABOUT IT AND KNOW HOW TO APPLY FOR IT.

AND DO IT.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS LAST WEEK, I RECEIVED A CHECK FOR THE REMAINING MONEY I DIDN'’T SPEND.

AFTER I PAID FOR MY BOOKS AND ALL OF THAT, THEY COVER EVERYTHING AND THEY SENT ME A CHECK.

I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I CAN USE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR ALL THE EXPENSES THAT I HAVE.

SO MANY PEOPLE, WHEN THEY HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM, THEY DON'’T BELIEVE IT, EVEN WITH ME BECAUSE I KNOW I WAS STRUGGLING FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER TO PAY.

I HAD TO PICK UP EXTRA SHIFTS WHILE I WAS WORKING.

IT WAS SO HARD FOR ME.

WHEN I HEARD ABOUT IT, I COULDN'’T BELIEVE IT.

I'’M LIKE WHY NOT, LET'’S TRY IT AND SEE.

I TRIED IT AND IT WORKED.

I CAN SAY I AM STUDYING FOR FREE AND I AM SO THANKFUL ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAVE.

NOW, I DON'’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IF I WILL HAVE THE MONEY.

I AM FOCUSED ON MY HOMEWORK AND DOING MY HOMEWORK STRESS-FREE.

IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

I WOULD TELL THEM TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY CAN GET ENROLLED BECAUSE IT DOESN'’T MATTER THE SCHOOL THAT YOU GO, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BECAUSE IT IS FREE NOW.

THEY DON'’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE, BUT PURSUE THE EDUCATION, THEIR DREAMS LIKE I AM.

TANISHA: THAT IS WONDERFUL.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CALLING NEW ATTORNEY DESULME, OK?

YES, YES.

YOU HAVE TO SPEAK IT INTO EXISTENCE.

ABSOLUTELY, WONDERFUL.

SPEAKING OF THAT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT REALLY HELPS, THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM HELPS TO RECONNECT THOSE THAT ARE 25 PLUS TWO ARE PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM.

WE KNOW THERE ARE NUMBER OF OTHER PROGRAMS, WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND AROUND THE CITY WITH OTHER PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT.

HOW DO WE, DR. TUTWILER, HOW DO WE ALSO THINK ABOUT MAKING THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE EXPERIENCE TO THE FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, SO THAT FOLKS CAN CONTINUE TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS AS THEY ARE STRIVING TOWARDS THEIR DREAMS?

SEC.

TUTWILER: SO, THERE ARE EXISTING SYSTEMS IN PLACE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS EARLIER THIS WEEK AT UMASS-LOW ELL, AND THEY TALKED DEEPLY ABOUT HOW A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THEIR STUDENT BODY COMES FROM THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

SO, THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OUR FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE REALLY STRONG.

THE CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM IS ALSO ROBUST AND STRONG.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT MASS RECONNECT, THE GOAL OBVIOUSLY IS NOT JUST ACCESS, IT IS COMPLETION.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO MEASURE OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY FINISH THE TWO YEAR PROGRAM, ARE THEY EMPLOYED MEANINGFULLY?

ARE THEY MOVING ONTO FOUR-YEAR PROGRAMS, IF THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO?

WE ARE BLESSED THAT WE HAVE EXISTING SYSTEMS.

WE JUST WANT TO PUSH AND CONTINUE TO PROGRESS MONITOR.

TANISHA: PRESIDENT JENKINS SCOTT, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW AT RCC, YOUR TEAM IS INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN RCC AND THE FOUR-YEAR?

JACKIE: WE ARE BLESSED PARTICULARLY IN BOSTON, WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITY, BOTH IN THE FOUR-YEAR AND TWO-YEAR.

WE HAVE GREAT COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN BOSTON ALONE.

OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES WHEREVER THEY WANT TO PURSUE THEIR NEXT ROUND.

WHETHER IT IS WORK, COLLLEGE.

SO, THIS OPPORTUNITY OF REDUCING YOUR COST FOR HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS GOING TO OPEN UP ALL KINDS OF AVENUES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

SO, PART OF THE JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE, WHETHER THEY ARE IN THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SECTOR.

WHETHER YOU WANT TO GO TO PURSUE AT UMASS, UMASS-BOSTON, OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR INSTITUTIONS.

WE ALSO HAVE GREAT -- WE HAVE A GREAT, ROBUST OPPORTUNITY IN MASSACHUSETTS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'’S AVAILABLE TO THEM.

TANISHA: ABSOLUTELY.

JACKIE: VERY EXCITING.

TANISHA: DR. EDDINGER, WITH BUNKER HILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, YOU ARE AT THE INTERSECTION OF SO MUCH WHEN IT COMES TO INNOVATION, THE INNOVATION ECONOMY.

IN OUR FINAL MINUTES, HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP ENSURE THAT YOUR STUDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO SOME OF THOSE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES?

DR. EDDINGER: I DO A LOT OF CHICKEN DINNERS.

[LAUGHTER] I'’M LOOKING AT JACKIE -- WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN COMMUNITY.

I THINK THE UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHILE WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AT THE C-SUITES TO MAKE PROMISES TO WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER, OUR OPERATIONS PEOPLE ARE PLUGGED INTO HR OPERATIONS AND THESE COMPANIES.

SO THOSE INTERNSHIPS HAPPEN.

TANISHA: WE WILL PICK THIS UP ON OUR FACEBOOK PLATFORM BECAUSE THAT IS THE END OF OUR BROADCAST, BUT WE WILL STAND BY AS WE TRANSITION TO OUR FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE PLATFORMS.

WE DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR JOINING US TODAY.

STAY WITH US.

GIVE US A COUPLE OF SECONDS.

WE WILL BE ON YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK AND PICK UP WITH DR. EDDINGER'’S CLIFFHANGER OF AN ANSWER.

[LAUGHTER]