The San Diego College of Continuing Education has been awarded a grant to launch its first-ever “Rising Scholars Program” for students who have been affected in some way by the American justice system.
The $169,387, three-year grant was announced on Monday.
The grant, from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, will fund the program at the Educational Cultural Complex, providing those who have been incarcerated or otherwise affected by the justice system with academic and personal resources such as legal rights referrals, community service connections, and reintegration support.
“For the first time ever in our 110-year history, San Diego College of Continuing Education has received funds to deliver highly targeted resources and support to justice-impacted students who are so ready and willing to change the trajectory of their lives,” said Tina M. King, College of Continuing Education president.
“We are profoundly grateful to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office for their support and including noncredit students in this program.
“This grant is more than funding, it’s a commitment to equity that ensures justice-impacted individuals are seen and supported to rise as learners, leaders, and changemakers in their communities.”
King said she was hopeful the program will impact hundreds this fall, including in stories like Francisco Contreras’.
According to the college, Contreras dropped out of school at 15, and his life “spiraled into a cycle of drugs, gang violence, and incarceration.” Nearly three decades later, he has returned to school.
“I finally realized that if something didn’t change, I was either going to be in prison for the rest of my life, or found dead somewhere,” he said.
With the support of the SDCCE, Contreras, 47, is now a high school graduate and advancing in his construction career and continuing his studies at SDCCE, a college statement reads.
Rising Scholars will begin offering academic counseling, peer mentoring, career training, mental health support, life-skills development, and strong community partnerships this August. Nathan Klein has been appointed the program’s first counselor.
“Klein brings over a decade of experience supporting justice-impacted individuals, foster youth, and low-income students,” the college statement reads. “His leadership roles in statewide equity-focused programs such as Umoja and NextUp, paired with international teaching experience in Spain and China, have shaped his trauma-informed, student-centered approach.”
By adding Klein and the Rising Scholar Program, there is now support for students at each college within the San Diego Community College District.
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