Bard Microcollege for Just Community Leadership

Arts, Sciences, and Advocacy

The Microcollege for Just Community Leadership is the nation’s first tuition-free college dedicated to advocacy and liberal arts and sciences. As Bard’s third Microcollege location, this site is based at the New York Public Library in Harlem, New York City and is a collaboration among the Bard Prison Initiative, JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA), and College & Community Fellowship (CCF). 

Bringing together partners who insist that education and community-based advocacy always be at the core of racial justice and criminal justice reform, the Harlem Microcollege serves students who are formerly incarcerated or directly impacted by the justice system and others who aspire to careers in advocacy, community building, or social justice. The program engages students in a robust liberal arts curriculum and coursework, in addition to direct advocacy training, all of which culminate in associate degrees from Bard College. Other Bard Microlleges are located in Brooklyn, at the Brooklyn Public Library, and in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Bard Microcolleges are a project of the Bard Prison Initiative.