“We can get in our own way at times, and I think that’s the biggest thing. It’s because of the stigma, it’s because of the way society views us, and the way it makes us doubt ourselves.”

DANNY MUÑOZ, FORMERLY INCARCERATED STUDENT AND MENTOR WITH UNDERGROUND SCHOLARS

Formerly incarcerated students face many challenges, but they can thrive in a program like Transitions at MiraCosta College. It's a great time to get into higher education if you're formerly incarcerated. Programs are also growing for currently incarcerated folks. In the state of California, there is a commitment from the state to support these programs. Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law that for the first time provides ongoing state support for programs such as R.I.S.E. at 50 community colleges around California. MiraCosta is one of them, yay!

The effort, called the Rising Scholars Network, comes as the number of incarcerated students enrolled in the community college system has grown dramatically, from a few hundred seven years ago to more than 10,000 today.

“Community colleges are the workhorse of higher education,” said Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, a Sacramento Democrat and the new law’s author. They serve more individuals with criminal records than either the UC or CSU. Campuses are often closer to home, and they offer career certificates and other programs that four-year colleges may not carry.

If you're interested, don't hesitate to reach out to me or anyone on the Transitions Program Team.