Harvard Club of Chicago

The Harvard Club of Chicago (HCC) is partnering with the Cook County Department of Corrections (CCDOC) Alternative Programs & Education Department on a tutoring program for qualifying inmates. We intend to launch on a pilot basis in January 2021 and are seeking volunteers to serve as tutors and potential mentors. An HCC Steering Committee, chaired by HCC Director and former President Bruce Hochstadt (AB ’81), has been formed to oversee and evaluate the program as well as to keep the HCC Board informed on its status and progress.  The Honorable Deval L. Patrick (AB’76, JD’82 and former Governor of Massachusetts) has agreed to serve as senior advisor to the program.
The program will begin with a correspondence approach to assist student inmates preparing for the GED exam as well as a financial literacy module as selected by participating inmates. Due to the pandemic, site-based interaction will need to be deferred until it is safe and practical to provide the instruction onsite at the CCDOC facilities. However, we plan to convert from the correspondence mode to virtual online instruction within a few months.
From a GED support standpoint, HCC volunteers can either utilize existing GED exam prep materials or have the option to develop subject-matter programs that reinforce and test understanding of key topics such as math, history, literature and science. HCC volunteers are developing materials for instruction, including a financial literacy curriculum - Key Concepts to Understand to Develop Financial Literacy, with subtopics such as Budgeting, Insurance, Taxes/Licenses and Credit/Debit.
A number of local alumni have agreed to serve as tutors; however, we anticipate the need for additional volunteers as the program gets underway and enrollment expands. If you are interested in learning more, serving as a volunteer tutor or joining the HCC Steering Committee for this initiative, please contact Bruce Hochstadt.

Bruce Hochstadt, AB ’81

Board of Directors