About HOPE
The HOPE Initiative is designed to examine and eliminate the social, institutional, and academic barriers that often prevent males of color from achieving their full potential at BHCC and beyond. This asset-based, student-centered initiative is run by a group of faculty, staff, and students focused on transforming the college experience, removing barriers to success and empowering students (HOPE Success Scholars) to navigate their college journey.
Currently aimed at transforming inequitable systems and structures so that Black, Indigenous, and Latino males can thrive, the program aims to expand in the coming years to include female students and additional communities of color.
Current HOPE Initiative Programs
Think Day Series
- Faculty, Staff, and administrators at the College will meet REMOTELY to discuss strategies for dismantling barriers to success on campus and in the Greater Boston community. Participants review literature, data and high-impact practices and brainstorm action steps for expanding and deepening work in this area.
Professional Development Series
The HOPE Initiative offers professional development opportunities throughout each semester that are designed to provide faculty, staff and administrators with increased awareness of and access to best practices in the empowerment of Black and Latino male students. Sessions are offered remotely to facilitate broad participation.
Beginning on Monday, October 7, 2024, HOPE will begin its Fall Community Reflections. These sessions will serve as an excellent opportunity to contextualize and deepen our work at the college as we move forward.
We will begin this exercise through the collective engagement in the Racelighting Course, created by Dr. J. Luke Wood, the pivotal voice behind the Black Minds Matter Course. This five-part course addresses how schools, colleges, and universities can address this issue, which is distinguished from gaslighting when the messages used to invalidate the victim are racial. Racelighting is an act of psychological manipulation where Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) receive racial messages that distort their realities and lead them to second-guess themselves.
Dialogue Series
Aimed to both gather input from males of color about their experiences and needs at BHCC and to create an affinity space as a resource for students the Dialogue Series strives to establish responsive programs and services that are inspired by student voice. Dialogues are open to all HOPE Success Scholars. For additional information or to attend a dialogue series session, please contact hope@bhcc.edu.
HOPE Ambassador Program
HOPE Ambassadors are student leaders and mentors who successfully incorporate mentorship, resiliency guidance, problem solving, general (non-academic) assistance, and “safe space conversations” for HOPE Success Scholars. HOPE Ambassadors also collaborate with a network of passionate professionals on campus who are dedicated to the success of Black and Latino male students. Above all else, the role of the HOPE Ambassador is to empower students along their educational pathway, ensuring registration and course completion towards graduation and/or transfer. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us via email, or complete an application to become an Ambassador here.