Dear Friends,
I am proud of the work of central Arkansas’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
In central Arkansas, we are fortunate to be the home of four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Arkansas Baptist College, Philander Smith College, Shorter College, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) have each excelled at educating the next generation of leaders and positively affecting our community.
I am pleased to present this video about these fine institutions’ impact in Arkansas, and my thanks to Arkansas Baptist College Interim President Regina Favors, Philander Smith College President Roderick Smothers, Shorter College President Jerome Green, and UAPB Chancellor Dr. Laurence B. Alexander along with current students for their partnership.
Together HBCUs educators and administrators are proving that education is one of the best investments America can make.
In Congress, I have been proud to work alongside my colleagues to champion legislation that bolsters the amazing work that our HBCUs are doing. For the last three Congresses, I have been proud to introduce the Shift Back to Society Act, which, inspired by the work of Arkansas Baptist College, creates a pilot program at the U.S. Department of Justice to provide grants to HBCUs to implement educational programs for eligible offenders and help them successfully transition back into their communities.
Inspired by Shorter’s work under the Second Chance Pell program, I was also proud to join Congressman Danny Davis in the introduction of the REAL Act, which repeals the ban on Pell eligibility for incarcerated individuals, providing another avenue for education and rehabilitation.
These schools provide so much hope to our state by improving our local communities, empowering our students, and growing our economy. It is critical that we continue to invest in these students and provide them with a bright future.
