X-Cel, Inc. Adult Education was founded in 2000  X-Cel's mission is to make high school completion and college-level study more accessible to low-income adults in Greater Boston, by providing flexible customized instruction at no cost in convenient community locations. X-Cel Educations GED and College Prep classes are an integral part of the STRIVE curriculum and are taught at all STRIVE locations to our graduates, participants and to the general public.

STRIVE and XCel both bring their own expertise and experience to the table.  Neither organization attempts to be all things to all people, but both focus on what they do best. The end result is that particpants' needs are met.  An additional example of continuum of care, is XCel's collaboration with the Nellie Mae Education Foundation to provide a 14-week College Transition program to each GED graduate that plans to attend college.  This program provides a seamless transition from seeking employment and receiving basic education skills to entering college and successfully completing college courses towards a certificate or degree, leading to a career with a living wage.

For more information visit their website at www.x-celeducation.org.

Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is a multi-campus urban institution, its main campus situated in the historic Charlestown neighborhood of Boston , Massachusetts . A second campus is located in nearby Chelsea , Massachusetts ; five satellites are located in the local communities of Cambridge , Chinatown, Revere , Somerville and Boston 's South End.  Founded in 1973 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts , BHCC enrolls more than 8,212 students in day, evening, weekend, web-based and distance learning courses and programs. The College offers more than 65 associate degree and certificate programs that prepare students for successful employment and transfer to four-year universities.  One of the largest colleges in the state's community college system, with students from 90 countries, and students of color comprising more than half of the student's population, BHCC is one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan colleges in New England. The average age of students is 28; nearly two-thirds are women and the majority of all students work while attending college.

In October 2006, STRIVE management began meeting with representatives from Bunker Hill Community College in an effort to create a new partnership which will increase participation of STRIVE graduates in post secondary education.  An articulation agreement between STRIVE and Bunker Hill Community College has been fully executed.  STRIVE has the ability to provide pre-college assessment testing and assist with the application and financial aid process on site.  The agreement enables STRIVE graduates who have a high school diploma or GED and who have completed the Microsoft Advanced Computer Training program to receive up to six college credits towards an associate's degree. 

STRIVE will work with admissions and support staff at BHCC to provide a smooth transition from its five week job training program and 15-week Microsoft Advanced Computer Training program to Bunker Hill Community College.  The goal of this innovative agreement is to develop a baseline of STRIVE graduates who go on to post-secondary education.  From there the organization will begin to track the number of graduates who receive an associate degree, experience wage growth and go on to four-year college institutions.  Particular emphasis will be placed on enrolling STRIVE's ex-offender population in Bunker Hill Community College .

For more information contact:
Bunker Hill Community College
Charlestown Campus
250 New Rutherford Avenue
Boston, MA 02129-2925
(617) 228-2422