Boston is an academic and economic hub: a destination for students from around the world.
Yet Boston youth, who could be first in their families to graduate college, are too often not accessing these same opportunities.
Boston HERC is changing that. Passport students are on a journey to Destination. . . Greatness!
What We Do
Equip first-generation-to-college high school students with the resources, connections, and skills they need to get in and stick through college, and launch careers
What You Can Do
Stay Connected on Social Media
Congratulations to Jaileen Matos and Hebat Elkacemi, Passport to College Seniors who received the inaugural Dr. Roberto Miranda Memorial Scholarship last week! Jaileen is graduating from New Mission High School and is headed to UMass Boston to study nursing. Hebat is graduating from Revere High School and is headed to Northeastern University in the University Honors Program. ![]()
![]()
Here they are pictured with philanthropic partners Tom and Nancy Colatosti, and their Program Coaches Nigesca Maxime and Michael Gonzalez.![]()
![]()
This week marks a year since the unexpected passing of Boston HERC's Board Chair Dr. Miranda. We are so incredibly grateful that Tom and Nancy chose to honor his legacy by creating this scholarship program. Each year, for at least the next 10 years, two of Boston HERC's first-generation students will receive $5,000 scholarships. ![]()
![]()
Dr. Miranda's work continues to inspire us as we work with our first-generation students to achieve their goals and dreams. Thank you, Tom and Nancy, for taking up the mantle with us.
Boston HERC’s mentoring pairs are enjoying a night out at the Red Sox. Thank you Mass Mentoring Partnership!
It’s nearly Decision Day! English High Seniors celebrated yesterday with pizza and ice cream as many also finished off their application and decision processes. Congratulations Seniors!
It's care package preparation time! Do you want to help the Boston HERC send some fun snacks and fidget toys to first-generation students during finals time? ![]()
![]()
See our Amazon wish list below where you can select which items you'd like to help out with. Thank you for your support!
Today members of the Boston HERC team had the opportunity to participate in Immigrants’ Day at the State House, advocating for policies that improve education opportunities for our immigrant students. ![]()
Thank you MIRA: Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, Inc. for organizing!
While much of the data released today is sobering--we have much work ahead of us--these reports also found that students who participate in Success Boston's intensive coaching (the coaching network that the Boston HERC's Alumni Success Program is a part of) are 18% more likely to complete college in four years than their non-coached peers. ![]()
![]()
Thank you to everyone who is helping provide the resources and funding we need to continue scaling up this coaching to reach more students, for more years, to support them to thrive in and persist through, college.
www.bostonglobe.com
The downward trend, beginning before the pandemic, is erasing one of the more impressive accomplishments for Boston Public Schools, which had relatively high college enrollment rates.
Thank you to Biogen for hosting a group of our Passport to College students this week to learn more about careers in Biotech! They really enjoyed the hands on experience.
In case you haven't seen it yet, our newest Annual Report is out! Congratulations to the Boston HERC students featured here and thank you to everyone who makes this work possible. ![]()
![]()
A special thank you, as well, to Passport parent Yulieth Ramos, who designed this Annual Report for us.
Thanks to all of our Passport Alumni who came back last night to the Community-based program to share their experiences with current Seniors! Lots of fun and great conversations were had by all.