Soular Sistas: Academic Support Services and Holistic Support in Reentry

• In Event: Supporting Women After Incarceration: A Pathway to Upward Mobility

Abstract

Successful reentry for women involves more than just academic achievement—it requires emotional healing, financial stability, and a strong support network. CCF’s holistic approach includes academic advising, tutoring, and coaching designed to help members earn degrees and certifications in supportive environments. The Soular Sistas initiative was created to nurture healing and connection through community-based support groups rooted in shared experience, trust, and empowerment. These spaces prioritize self-care, personal growth, and emotional well-being, recognizing that educational persistence often depends on internal resilience and external encouragement. In addition, CCF offers robust financial wellness programming, including student loan literacy, debt management, and consolidation workshops—tools critical to long-term stability. Together, these supports help women navigate the complex realities of reentry while building sustainable futures. This presentation will highlight the interconnected nature of academic, emotional, and financial wellness, showcasing how CCF’s model bridges the gap between education and lived experience. By affirming the whole person and fostering sisterhood, these services create a pathway to healing, empowerment, and upward mobility.

Author

• Ebony Abel, College and Community Fellowship