Restoring Our Communities (ROC) is an academic support program at Laney College, by and for formerly incarcerated students. ROC is about supporting and equipping formerly incarcerated* (FI) students with the tools to be successful at Laney College and beyond.
We are dedicated to eliminating the stigma of being formerly incarcerated and reversing the effects of mass incarceration and the school-to-prison pipeline. Our goal is to support students from reentry to graduation and/or transfer.
We provide a safe space in a therapeutic learning community where FI students can feel a sense of validation and belonging. Our space provides opportunities for peer mentoring and peer advising. Peer mentoring is student-to-student guidance on things like what classes to take, who is a good professor, how to be a good student etc. Peer advising is ambassador and staff support on how to apply for transfer, how to use assist.org, what it is like being at a university etc. Both peer mentoring and peer advising provide social capital for FI students who usually are also first-generation students as well.
We also provide material support like BART tickets, and Book Vouchers.+
We provide a stigma-free space where you can study, learn and grow with other like-minded students. If you are formerly incarcerated and thinking about returning to school, please visit us in the E building, Room 203, so that we can assist you with the steps for enrolling in CCCApply (and creating your CCCID), FAFSA (and creating your FSAID) and Laney College.
*Former incarceration can include simple arrest with no conviction, juvenile and/or women’s detention, city and/or county jail, state and/or federal prison, military or immigrant detention.
+Academic and material support is based on the amount of resources the program has for the semester. Support is conditional and dependent on the student remaining in good standing with the program.
