Hostos Community College and the Bronx Center: A Model for a Community College Partnership in Urban Community Development.

In 1992, Hostos Community College (HCC), in the Bronx, New York, began participation in the Bronx Center project, a partnership between government, community organizations, and private groups to develop a comprehensive urban plan for a 300-block area of the Bronx. Including civic, corporate, community, and political leaders, the Center was composed of a steering committee, advisory council, and work groups on various areas of urban planning (e.g., education, culture, and recreation; economic development; urban design) meeting regularly to develop plans and recommendations. Participants in the project were guided by the principles that planning must begin from the bottom up, planning must be interdisciplinary and comprehensive, economic and social revitalization of the Bronx Center must bring benefits to the immediate community and city, and one measure of future success will be how it provides learning opportunities for the community. The President of HCC chaired the work group on Education, Culture, and Recreation, which was dedicated to incorporating lifelong learning throughout the Bronx Center. Recommendations developed by this group included the following: (1) develop high schools with specialized educational themes; (2) use schools as community centers for adult education, recreation, and other activities; (3) allow public access to the Police Academy and Court Complex educational and athletic facilities; and (4) establish an Education Consortium to encourage cooperative efforts of diverse Bronx Center groups. (KP)