嘿嘿视频

New 嘿嘿视频 Program Supports Students Formerly Incarcerated, Impacted by Justice System

News
A male and a female student stand with Joshua "Gunner" Johnson
嘿嘿视频 students Laurin Williams, left, and Shakil Chaudhry, center, are excited about the new Underground Scholars Program, which will serve formerly incarcerated students like themselves as well as those otherwise impacted by the criminal justice system. Joshua 鈥淕unner鈥 Johnson, right, is program director. (Gregory Urquiaga/嘿嘿视频)

Shakil Chaudhry was in and out of jail for nearly three decades, so he knows about open and closed doors.

And the senior at the University of California, Davis, has something to say about the campus鈥檚 new for formerly incarcerated students and those who have been directly impacted by the justice system.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to open doors to be able to do so much more,鈥 said Chaudhry, a transfer student who is working toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology.

The program held an open house at its facilities in South Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 24.

Laurin Williams, a 嘿嘿视频 junior hired as the part-time student assistant for the program, is excited about what the program will be able to do. 鈥淗aving a dedicated space on campus and having people working with our community is impactful,鈥 she said.

Within the university鈥檚 Office of Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Services, the program is funded through an annual $490,000 state allocation over three years to support higher education for formerly incarcerated students. The Underground Scholars space in Room 26 of South Hall includes offices for the director and coordinator, lounge space for students, study desks, a microwave and hot coffee on offer.

Joshua 鈥淕unner鈥 Johnson, who has about six years鈥 experience supporting formerly incarcerated and justice-involved students, started Nov. 1 as program director. He served more than a decade in prison and went on to earn bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in sociology, both from Sacramento State.

Trevor Clark is the program coordinator. He earned two associate degrees while serving almost 10 years in a Nevada state prison. After his release, he transferred to 嘿嘿视频 and earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in linguistics in 2017.

The program will expand on the efforts of, and work in partnership with, the Underground Scholars Initiative, a registered student organization established at 嘿嘿视频 in 2019. It will support formerly incarcerated students and those who have been impacted by the criminal justice system, perhaps through arrest without conviction or through a family member鈥檚 incarceration.

Williams and Chaudhry, who are part of the student organization, said up to about a dozen students participate in its meetings. They and Johnson expect more students will get involved with the new program as it becomes better known.

Johnson said the program aims to foster a college-going culture among currently and formerly incarcerated people and to make higher education more accessible and supportive for them. He said the program will help 嘿嘿视频 students navigate the challenges of reentry and reintegration, find community, access campus resources, develop a sense of personal agency, learn to advocate for themselves and their community, and connect with meaningful careers.

鈥淎n education changes a person鈥檚 perception of what is possible,鈥 said Johnson, adding that it can change even the dynamics within a family and have positive impact across generations.

Establishing the program, Johnson said, says something about 嘿嘿视频: 鈥淚t really shows the commitment 嘿嘿视频 has to equity and doing what we can to change the system.鈥

Program funding will support grants to help students with academic and basic needs as well as attending professional development and community advocacy conferences. The program sponsored a Friendsgiving meal for the student group in November. Upcoming activities include a workshop to take professional headshots and improve resumes and another about expunging criminal records.

Williams, who served 28 days in a county jail, said she hopes the program will also help create more acceptance and welcome for formerly incarcerated students on campus. 鈥淚 want to be accepted as a human 鈥 that is not here to harm but looking toward our future and our growth.鈥

Media Resources

Media Contact:

Primary Category

Secondary Categories

Student Life

Tags