Mission and Goals
Mission
Driven by a public-private partnership between the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, Roxbury Community College, Greater Boston Legal Services, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, and the state’s leading cannabis industry members, the CultivatED Program will select fellows who reflect those individuals most directly impacted by the nation’s failed War on Drugs from disproportionately impacted neighborhoods and communities locally.
Fellows will receive full-scholarship awards, gaining them access to individualized pro bono legal services, a higher education certificate program, workforce training, fully paid and benefited co-operative learning and externship rotations in the cannabis industry for educational credit hours, and job placement upon completion of the program.
Creating a new nonprofit entity, this collaboration’s mission will be to competitively select fellows who reflect those individuals the state seeks to empower: diverse individuals from areas of disproportionate impact with positive CORIs who are seeking employment or meaningful, new employment opportunities.
Fellows will receive a full-scholarship, gaining them access to pro bono legal services provided by GBLS, a higher education certificate program offered by RCC, workforce training by the Urban League, and fully paid and benefited externship rotations with participating industry member.
Following successful graduation of the fellowship, the goal is to have 100% employment of these fellows within the participating industry member’s companies.
Goals
Following proof of concept, grow to become a fully accredited associates degree with statewide impact across the Commonwealth’s community college campuses.
Create a sustainable pipeline of employees at all levels, advancing the state’s diversity hiring targets.
Create a meaningful industry partnership to empower those in the Commonwealth who have been disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs.