Homies Sit in the Front: The Experiences of Formerly Incarcerated Latina/o/x Students in Higher Education

• In Event: Negotiating Higher Education Transition

Abstract

This study aimed to share the experiences of Latinx students that have experienced incarceration or navigate post-secondary institutions with a criminal record. Findings from the participation of FILS illuminated three overarching themes as they shared their experiences in community college and pursuing higher education.

Participants shared the challenges students face, which will consist of the trauma students faced pre-education and how they impact the educational experience. The students' college experiences and how they developed a community to succeed in higher education, how institutional agents, and campus support to navigate higher education. By highlighting these students' experiences, we hope to disrupt and (re)imagine educational inequities and center collaborative work with these students as contributors to our higher education institutions.

Authors

• Melissa E. Abeyta, University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley

• Joe Louis Hernandez, Mt. San Antonio College

• Oscar Duran, San Diego State University

• Anacany Torres, California State University - Long Beach