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Urban College Of Boston Receives $30,000 Grant The Harold Whitworth Pierce Charitable Trust Grant Aids The Bilingual Early Childhood Education Program   Boston, Mass., January 4, 2002 - The Urban College of Boston received a $30,000 gift from the Harold Whitworth Pierce Charitable Trust to expand the College’s Bilingual Early Childhood Education Program which provides professional training and upward-mobility opportunities to students whose first language is not English but Spanish or Cantonese. According to President Lee Hines, “with support from The Harold Whitworth Pierce Charitable Trust, students who might not otherwise attend college because of language and communication barriers will be able to do so. These students will receive necessary professional training and academic support to provide them and their families with economic empowerment opportunities and an improved quality of life as a consequence of successfully completing the Urban College’s Bilingual Early Childhood Education Certificate Program.” President Hines noted that the Urban College recognizes the increased demand for childcare due to welfare reform requirements along with the dramatic increase in Greater Boston’s immigrant population. The Urban College student body reflects the cultural and ethnic diversity of Boston’s urban neighborhood locations. “By serving this neglected student population”, Hines added, “the Urban College provides access to opportunities at the college level through professional development in the their native language, while they build their English skills.” The Urban College of Boston, which was recently granted accreditation from the New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, mission is to provide higher education opportunities within a supportive environment and a curriculum that emphasizes career preparation and skill development to residents who are “under-served” by traditional colleges. The Urban College designs and offers comprehensive, innovative bilingual courses to low-income students as well as Bilingual Early Childhood Education Certificates in Spanish and Cantonese. The Urban College of Boston was founded by Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD) which is the official anti-poverty agency of Boston. The College reaches out to non-traditional students who understand the value of higher education and its importance in their lives and the lives of their families. Currently, almost 800 students are enrolled at the Urban College. The majority of Urban College students are working parents who juggle full-time jobs, childcare and their studies. The college’s success stories are numerous, with many graduates now holding significant positions in government, business and community agencies.