Since 2005, Suffolk University has partnered with the Bird Street Community Center in Dorchester to offer the Connections 2 College program during the summer.  This program is designed to help provide low-income and first-generation students with resources so that they may pursue higher education following high school graduation. Over a 100 students have benefited from this program.

According to the Bird Street Community Center, the goals of the Connections 2 College program are to:

1. Increase the likelihood that youth will pursue college after high school graduation by "demystifying" the process of college admissions and college life;

2. Prepare high school youth for greater success in college by exposing them to college coursework, experiences, resources and college-aged mentors;

3. Provide an enriching summer experience for Bird Street Youth, including a wage or stipend as a "work and learning" experience, an opportunity to live on a college campus and the change to give back to the community through service learning.