The Justice Impacted Students Training Series will present “The Impact of Education and Community Support: Successful Reentry Stories,” from noon-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, 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 the remaining session set for Nov. 18. 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 series, 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.

“The Impact of Education and Community Support: Successful Reentry Stories” highlights the successes of formerly incarcerated students at Cal State San Bernardino and beyond. During this session, data will be shared that shows that formerly incarcerated students are dedicated learners who contribute invaluable experiences to the classroom and relentless efforts within the community. The presenters will provide guidance on encouraging professional development among the formerly incarcerated student population. The 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.

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 session will be the “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.
The presenter will be Cavallaro.

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.