The Justice Impacted Students Training Series will present “Important Considerations When Working with Formerly Incarcerated Students,” from noon-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, on Zoom.

Two programs at Cal State San Bernardino – Project Rebound and the Center for the Study of Correctional Education – have joined together to deliver the Justice Impacted Students Training Series, with remaining sessions set for Nov 4 and Nov. 11. It is a joint initiative hosted by Project Rebound, the Center for the Study of Correctional Education, Faculty Center for Excellence, Staff Development Center, and Division of Student Affairs.

This workshop, which began on Sept. 30, was created for the staff and faculty at CSUSB, but organizers are also inviting community partners and the general public to attend and participate in the sessions, as they may interact with, and serve, the same populations.

“Important Considerations When Working with Formerly Incarcerated Students” will outline various methods of academic and career support that may be utilized by CSUSB staff and faculty, and will include discussion of some recent legal changes that have opened up career pathways for formerly incarcerated students.

Presenters will be Veena Gursahani, deputy director of California programs at Oakland-based Root & Rebound, a legal services organization that supports low-income communities and communities of color harmed by mass incarceration; and James Binnall, associate professor of law, criminology and criminal justice at Cal State Long Beach.

The session will be facilitated by Alexandra Cavallaro, associate professor of English and director of the Center for the Study of Correctional Education, and Annika Anderson, associate professor of sociology and director of Project Rebound.

“We created this training series to uplift the voices, experiences, challenges and successes of the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated participants in our programs,” said Cavallaro and Anderson. “Throughout our years as directors of our respective programs, there has been a tremendous amount of support from our campus administrators, including our president, deans and departments.

“However, moving forward, we see this series of workshops as an opportunity to educate various stakeholders, interested parties and the campus community about how best to serve our participants. We also hope to learn of any barriers that may exist in garnering support by creating an open dialogue and safe space to discuss and address concerns.”

Registration for the sessions can be done online at the Ally Training Series for Justice Impacted Students webpage.

The remaining sessions are:

  • “The Impact of Community Education and Community Support: Successful Reentry Stories,” noon-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4. Data will be provided at this session that shows that formerly incarcerated students are dedicated learners who contribute invaluable experiences to the classroom and relentless efforts within the community. Guidance will be provided on encouraging professional development among the formerly incarcerated student population. This session will also include testimonials from formerly incarcerated students and allies.
    Presenters will be Michael Griggs, a prison abolitionist and social justice advocate who serves as the outreach coordinator for Project Rebound at CSUSB; and Roberta Fox, a student assistant with Project Rebound who is a 2020 CSUSB graduate with a BA in social work and currently a graduate student in the Master of Social Work program.
  • “Inside/Out: Prison Education Showcase,” noon-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18. Hear from incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people who will share their prison education experiences. Also featured will be a sample in-prison class session during which participants will read and discuss works from incarcerated students.
    Presenters will be Alexandra Cavallaro, CSUSB associate professor of English and director of the Center for the Study of Correctional Education, and prison education participants.

A certificate will be awarded to faculty and staff who attend all four sessions and complete a reflective assignment.

Also, a donation will be made to Project Rebound and the Center for the Study of Correctional Education for every staff or faculty member who completes the training series and receives their certificate.

Visit the Project Rebound and the Center for the Study of Correctional Education websites to learn more about each program.