Cal State LA Project Rebound

In 1967, a formerly incarcerated professor Dr. John Irwin at San Francisco State University proposed the radical notion that education has the power to transform the lives of formerly incarcerated people like it did for him.   Project Rebound is now present at fourteen of the California State University campuses. The program has empowered hundreds of formerly incarcerated students to pursue a college degree, providing individuals access to the skills and knowledge necessary to enhance their reintegration experience and ultimately alter their life trajectory.  

The positive impact that education provides doesn’t cease with the individual; rather it extends to the community and has a significant diminishing impact on rates of recidivism in California, which is currently the highest in the nation. Providing access to higher education and new opportunities impacts the communities our students return to. Project Rebound graduates act as vectors that return to the community with a broader idea of the possibilities. Individuals that never imagined themselves stepping foot on a college campus can now envision themselves as a Project Rebound member that boldly claims the attainability of higher education through solid commitment and ample support and college resources. 

Cal State LA’s Project Rebound organized in fall of 2017, and serves an exponentially growing population of formerly incarcerated students at all levels of educational experiences and carceral statuses; from the currently incarcerated to those who have recently received pardons.  Fostering partnerships with community colleges, penal institutions, and public and private sectors and organizations,  Project Rebound provides support to ensure students persist and excel from application submission through graduation and beyond. Troubleshooting the myriad obstacles that confront formerly incarcerated students as they move forward, including basic needs, technology training, advocacy, professional development, work and internship opportunities, self-exploration and fostering a culture grounded in the philosophy of, “each one, teach one.” At Project Rebound a value is placed on instilling a commitment to mentorship, and a responsibility or reaching back to impart upon to those who follow in their footsteps, the insight gained on their journey from incarceration to higher-education and pay forward the support received. The success of Project Rebound underscores the importance of investing in our communities, as Project Rebound scholars outperform traditional students and the vast majority pursue graduate studies. Project Rebound produces returning citizens that are committed to the communities as stakeholders and agents of change.