Chapman Works with OC Nonprofit to Provide Courses for Formerly Incarcerated Youths

Link to: Chapman University Newsroom Story

PRESS CONTACT:
Bethanie Le
Public Relations Coordinator
bele@chapman.edu
(714) 289-3181

Correctional education programs are one of the most effective interventions, reducing recidivism rates by 43%. However, the majority of these programs focus on the adult population and rarely serve youths who have been impacted by the juvenile justice system.

Chapman University has teamed up with the Orange-based nonprofit, Underground GRIT (UG), to provide formerly incarcerated youths with courses taught by Chapman professors with the goal of breaking the school-to-prison pipeline.

Media are invited to attend Chapman University President Daniele Struppa’s virtual class, where he is currently teaching algebra to 12 formerly-incarcerated students in UG’s reentry program.

President Struppa’s class meets on Saturday mornings for two hours, and is in a remote format with students participating virtually through Zoom. Please contact the Chapman University Public Relations Office for additional information and to arrange interviews with President Struppa, students, and/or faculty who made this Chapman-UG partnership possible.

Quotes

“Spending time with these students is extremely meaningful,” said President Struppa. “They have been affected by some of the greatest challenges that anybody could face, and it is heartening to see how committed they are to their recovery. They are among my most attentive students because they know how valuable education is. Learning, for them, is a way to change their entire lives.”

One of President Struppa’s students, Anna Garcia, shares her experience in the course so far, “This class takes me back to my roots and to where my heart is because I love learning. School is something that I never give up on. People wish for a better job, or to live in a nice place. What I wish for and what I seek for in my future is more knowledge,” she said.