LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 10th Annual Graduate Cele-
bration of the College & Community Fellowship, June 10, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals that are devoted to the welfare of the community
and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 10th Annual Graduate Celebration of the College & Community
Fellowship; this auspicious occasion was held on Thursday, June 10,
2010, at the Baisley Powell Elebash Recital Hall, CUNY Graduate Center
in New York City; and
WHEREAS, The College & Community Fellowship (CCF) is a private organ-
ization housed at the Center for the Study of Women and Society at the
CUNY Graduate Center in New York City; and
WHEREAS, The mission of CCF is to eliminate the individual and social
barriers to education and civic participation of women with criminal
convictions and their families; through its activities and programs, CCF
addresses the educational, economic and civic participation needs of
women with criminal convictions in the New York metropolitan area, work-
ing in concert with other organizations to enhance their successful
re-entry; and
WHEREAS, Under the outstanding leadership of its Executive Director,
Vivian Nixon, CCF aims to: offer educational programming, including
mentoring, tuition support and academic support to women with criminal
convictions; address the expanding career-development needs of its
fellows, alumni and other college graduates with criminal convictions
who seek employment that is congruent with their levels of education;
link with local, state and federal re-entry agencies and criminal
justice organizations to explore the development of a local and national
agenda promoting education as a strategy in and after prison; and devel-
op the leadership of CCF fellows as part of local and national criminal
justice reform organizations, coalitions and networks; and
WHEREAS, CCF participants come from the five New York City boroughs,
Long Island and Westchester County; 57 percent are African-American, 28
percent are Latina and 15 percent are white; it also has a small number
of male participants; on average, CCF fellows are 34 years old and 67
percent have at least one child; CCF fellows typically begin the program
with household incomes below New York City's median; and
WHEREAS, Two-thirds of CCF fellows attend schools within the City
University of New York; most participants pursue degrees in human
services; others pursue various fields of study including business
administration, sociology, urban education, public policy, theology and
women's studies; and
WHEREAS, CCF fellows have completed 16 Associate's degrees, 52 Bach-
elor's degrees, 30 Master's degrees and one Doctoral degree; and
WHEREAS, In addition, CCF fellows maintain an average GPA of 3.0 which
is above the 2.5 required to remain in the program; current CCF fellows
and graduates have won a variety of prestigious academic awards and
honors at CUNY and other metropolitan area colleges, as well as a number
of civic leadership and employment awards; and
WHEREAS, Seventy percent of the CCF fellows work full-time while
attending college and 75 percent of graduates report significant career
advancement upon obtaining a college degree; and

WHEREAS, In its nine years of operation, less than two percent of CCF
participants have returned to prison; and
WHEREAS, The 10th Annual Graduate Celebration of the College & Commu-
nity Fellowship presents a unique opportunity for this Legislative Body
to recognize and pay tribute to the College & Community Fellowship; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when an organ-
ization of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our atten-
tion, it should be recognized and applauded by all the citizens of this
great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 10th Annual Graduate Celebration of the College & Commu-
nity Fellowship; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Vivian Nixon, Executive Director, the College & Community
Fellowship, 365 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5113, New York, New York 10016.