Many incarcerated students are unable to finish their degree before they are released, meaning they must continue their college education once they return to the community to earn the degree they worked toward. To address barriers to reenrolling, the Higher Education in Reentry Reimagined initiative is working to bridge the needs of formerly incarcerated students with the services of educators and providers.

We’re working with community-based organizations to better understand the role they play in reporting and responding to hate crimes, as well as how to grow partnerships and services to support survivors and prevent future crimes. 

By giving them the tools to understand the root causes of their feelings—especially intense ones such as anger or anxiety—participants described being better able to manage them. For participants like Robert, this not only led to reduced feelings of stress and depression, but to better relationships and interactions with others.

In East Harlem, the Center for Trauma Innovation is helping participants heal from trauma and cope with challenges. A recent survey highlights how impacts vary across gender and racial identity, and how time plays an important role in healing journeys.

December 10th is Human Rights Day. We’re spotlighting a few approaches that state and local governments can take to protect globally recognized human rights at the local level.   

After large-scale law enforcement intervention in 2014 left the community disrupted and traumatized, the West Harlem Community Reentry and Restoration Project (WHCRRP) sought to support the people directly impacted as well as the community at large.

It’s not simply about providing classes. It’s about reducing administrative barriers so incarcerated students can maintain momentum despite transfers, as well as feel supported after release so they can continue on their journeys to success and stability.

October 10th is World Mental Health Day. We’re spotlighting a few of our partners who’ve committed to making mental health services more widely available, particularly for underserved groups.  

An evaluation team at the Center for Complex Trauma is using a community-based participatory research approach to understand how the Center for Trauma Innovation in East Harlem implemented a unique trauma-informed program.

In East Harlem, the Center for Trauma Innovation is supporting the healing journeys of individuals impacted by the criminal legal system with unique strategies to build relationships, provide innovative services, and respond to community needs.  

Participatory research gives community stakeholders a voice in evaluating the programs designed to support them. It creates partnerships between them and evaluation staff to understand program implementation processes, identify challenges, and propose recommendations.  

Based in Brooklyn, Drive Change is connecting system-involved young people with career pathways in the food industry, while also seeking to change how that industry operates, representing a step forward and a model for the field.