Leading for Liberation: How Community College Reentry Program Staff Create Change for Formerly Incarcerated Students

• In Event: Equitable Education Systems and Organizational Leadership

Abstract

Community College Reentry Programs (CCRPs) are campus-based programs serving formerly incarcerated (FI) students that provide targeted services attuned to students’ needs. Currently, there are 47 community colleges in California that CCRPs. While emerging research has begun to examine the experiences of students in these programs, less research has focused on the staff who lead them. This study uses a grassroots leadership perspective to examine how CCRP staff lead for organizational change. I interview 18 CCRP staff members and find that CCRP staff go above and beyond their roles to advocate for students. They are the ones leading reform efforts towards advancing justice and equity for their students. My findings have implications for strengthening these programs and better supporting their staff.

Author

• Elif Asli Yucel, University of Southern California