“The CTEC program has exceeded BOSS’s expectations . . . because of the quality of life changes BOSS has seen among the men, women, families, and community being served,” said emcee Arnold Perkins at the graduation Oct. 26 in Oakland.

CTEC partners with the Alameda County Probation Department with the goal of helping citizens returning from incarceration find jobs and reduce prison recidivism.

Special guests included Rep. Barbara Lee, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, State Sen. Nancy Skinner, and motivational speaker Kemba Smith. The 84 graduates of the CTEC education and training curriculum are now employed in the community, according to a BOSS official.

The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir performed following remarks by BOSS Executive Director Donald Frazier. For more information on BOSS and CTEC, go to self-sufficiency.org.