Gordon F. May, BCCC president, said the college will get to the root cause of the events of April. (Courtesy Photo)
Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) President Gordon F. May, recently announced a city-wide task force to examine the root causes that led to the April 2015 unrest that resulted in the arrest of more than 250 people, reported physical damage to 350 structures and the looting of 27 drug stores across the city of Baltimore.
The committee, chaired by Bryan Perry, General Counsel for BCCC, will host its kick-off event on the first week of December at the College. The task force will work through next spring and focus on four issues: limited access to education, poverty, lack of economic opportunities and the need for increased options for ex-offenders.
“BCCC has been at the heart of this unrest and its aftermath”, said Perry in an interview with the AFRO. Dr. May said that many BCCC students “ hail from neighborhoods and communities most affected by the uprising. They are troubled by the nagging lack of opportunity available to many city residents,” May said.
This is the latest task force to examine the events of April. On Nov. 16 The Police Executive Research Forum released a report “Lessons Learned from the 2015 Civil Unrest in Baltimore” that focused on the police’s response. Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts asked for the report before he was let go by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake earlier this year. The report found that Baltimore police were underprepared and disorganized during the riots.
BCCC’s task force will be composed 15-20 members, comprised of students, faculty, staff and community residents. “Our students are from the surrounding community and our programs are for students and the community. We have received good feedback from the community and look forward to their thoughts and ideas” Perry said.
The task force will issue recommendations to President May by May 2016. BCCC will also present its findings in a white paper that will be issued to local and state government officials, business concerns and the general community.
BCCC is the only community college in the city of Baltimore and the only state-sponsored community college in Maryland. “BCCC serves as a critical gateway for many students from Baltimore’s underserved communities “ said May.