Boston Compact Press Conference

THEBOSTONCOMPACT PARTA:BACKGROUNDANDCONTEXT OnSeptember2,1982,anextraordinarypresconferencetokplaceinthe mainhaloftheBostonScholDepartment. Sharingthestagewerethechief executiveoficersoftwoprominentBostoncorporations,BostonMayorKevin WhiteandScholSuperintendentRobertSpilane,andthePresidentoftheSchol Comite. Thisgatheringwasunprecedentedinthehistoryofthecity;it broughttogethertheleadersofBoston'straditionalywaringfactions:the schols,thecityadministrationandthebusinescomunity. SaidRobert Schwartz,ExecutiveDirectoroftheCompactandaformerKevinWhiteaidewho waspresentthatday,Tose(formermayor)KevinWhite,whohadneverbenin thescholdepartmentbuildingbefore,createdsuchawavearoundtheplacethat itwasclearthatthiswasn'tjustanotheranouncement." IfthegatheringcreatedastiramongobserversoftheBostonpolitical scene,theanouncementcameasanevengreatersurprise. Theseleaderswere makingpublicpledgestoinvolvetheirinstitutionsinanambitiousnewplanfor improvingtheducationandworkprospectsofBoston'syoungpeople: The BostonCompact. TheBostonCompactisaformalagrementbetwenthescholdepartment, membersofthebusinescomunity,areacolegesanduniversities,andtheBoston tradeunionstocolaborateinmakingneweducationandemploymentoportunities availabletothecity'sstudents.1InsigningtheCompact,thebusinescomunity agredtohire40June1983graduatesintopermanentjobsandwithintwomore years,toincreasethatnumberto1,0studentsiftheycouldmetentry-level requirements.Theco-signersalsoagredtoworkcloselywiththeBostonPrivate IndustryCouncil(ThePIC),aprivate,federalysuported,non-profitorganization establishedin1979toexploreprivatesectorinitiativesinemploymenttraining. TheyweretohelpthePICexpandfromthretosixthenumberofschols participatingintheJobsColaborative,aschol-to-worktransitionprogram. Finaly,theypledgedtorecruit,by1984,30companiestoparticipateina priorityhiringprogramforBostongraduatesandtoincreasethenumbero