A Prison to College Pathway
Helping formerly incarcerated and system impacted students successfully transition into academia by providing reintegration services and a pathway to higher education through academic counseling, career guidance, and mentorship. Our success management and dedicated academic counseling can help you apply to ELAC and explore ELAC’s eight Career and Academic Pathways (CAPs) that lead to rewarding careers or preparation for transfer. There are many programs available for financial aid. Additionally, Rising Scholars are eligible to receive book grants, school materials, and technology support. Build strong relationships with our faculty partners dedicated to support formerly incarcerated and system impacted students develop knowledge, skills, and understanding in various subject areas required to earn a degree and transfer to a university. Our program provides opportunities for Rising Scholars to learn and participate in various campus and off-campus workshops and conferences that build valuable connections and knowledge sharing.
ELAC Education Justice Scholars Program is committed to helping individuals in the community with successful transition into academia after incarceration by providing reintegration services and a pathway to higher education through counseling, career guidance, and mentorship.
ELAC Education Justice Scholars Program aims to map out strategies that challenge the carceral system (the comprehensive network of systems that rely, at least in part, on the exercise of state sanctioned physical, emotional, spatial, economic, and political violence to preserve the interest of the state).
Ed Justice is dedicated to build movements for justice by having conversations with policy and advocate groups, national councils of formerly incarcerated people, non-government organizations, and higher education professionals from across the country.
Connect with Us
Location: Building E1, Room 104
Monday - Thursday: 10:30am - 7:00pm
Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Main Office
risingscholars@elac.edu
Program Coordinator
Elizandro Umaña
@email
323-265-8609
Are you a formerly incarcerated or system-impacted student? Our program is committed to providing you resources and services to ensure you receive the necessary information and support to succeed at East Los Angeles College.
Meet the Team
Elizandro Umaña
Coordinator
umanae@elac.edu
323-265-8609
Elizandro Umaña, a proud son of Salvadoran refugees, was born and raised in LA’s Westlake District and pre-gentrified Echo Park. A first-generation college graduate of Cal State LA, he studied Sociology and Latin American Studies with a focus on social justice, racial capitalism, immigration, and Central American Studies.
Since 2015, Elizandro has served in Student Services at East Los Angeles College, where he has co-founded and led initiatives supporting undocumented, LGBTQ+, and justice-impacted students. He helped launch the Education Justice Scholars program and secured ELAC’s partnership with the California Community College Rising Scholars Network, earning multiple grants to expand support for formerly incarcerated students.
Doctora Vanessa Ochoa
Dean
ochoavj@elac.edu
Doctora Vanessa Ochoa, is the proud daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico. Her parents' teachings help her center strength, courage and love in her leadership at ELAC and beyond. As a proud native of Boyle Heights, Doctora Ochoa understands the importance of carrying neighborhood pride into the spaces she serves. She couples her joy for all things Boyle Heights with Tara Yosso's theory of Community Cultural Wealth--the concept that helps her honor all scholars and community members with their gifts of lived experiences.
Doctora Ochoa's formal schooling at UC Berkeley (Bachelors in Chicanx Studies), Stanford (master's in education) and UCLA (PH.D. in Education) enable her to develop educational and leadership systems that support the essence of students. As a Dean in Student Services that supports the One Zone Equity Centers she always leads with her ancestor's vision leads with Malcolm X's belief that—"Freedom for All or Freedom for No One!"
Brittney Perez
Counselor
As a proud graduate of East Los Angeles College, I am honored to return as an academic counselor. After transferring from ELAC with my Associates in Psychology and General Studies, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UC Irvine and continued my education at the University of La Verne where I received my Master’s in Educational Counseling.
Being born and raised in Boyle Heights, I feel a strong connection to my community and I am passionate about giving back through education. Through my role, I provide academic support and guidance to formerly and currently incarcerated students and system impacted. I help students navigate college and reach their goals. A major part of my role is supporting students through the transition of their release and ensuring they continue their educational journey.
Supporting students to me is more than just helping them excel academically, it’s about building meaningful connections with my students, embracing their challenges, celebrating their successes, and learning from them as much as they learn from me!
Services
- Assistance with Enrollment
- Priority Registration
- Student Support Resources
- Financial Aid and Scholarships
- Student-Peer Mentorship
- Access to Expungement
- Dedicated Academic Counseling
- Transfer Preparation and Support
- Assistance with Job Readiness
- Success Management
- Community Resources
Ambassador Program: ELAC Ed Justice Program offers campus tours, information sessions, and workshops to formerly and currently incarcerated individuals, and community stakeholders, interested in pursuing their academic goals at East Los Angeles College.
Early College Program: In collaboration with LA County Probation, ELAC Ed Justice offers dual enrollment college-credit courses to high school youth in Camp Community Placement at Camp Afflerbaugh, Camp Paige, Dorothy Kirby Center, and Central Juvenile Hall. The goal of our Early College Program is to provide youth an opportunity to begin their college & career pathway while still enrolled in high school.
Ed Justice English Learning Community: The Ed Justice English Learning Community provides formerly incarcerated students an opportunity to complete English 101 and English 103 within a cohort dedicated to implementing culturally responsive curriculum and instruction.
Cal State LA Project Rebound Transfer Pathway: Project Rebound assists formerly incarcerated individuals seeking to enroll at Cal State LA by providing an introduction to the university setting and campus services.
UCLA Center for Community College Partnerships: Formerly Incarcerated System-Impacted Summer Intensive Transfer Experience (FI-SI SITE ). Students learn to navigate the community college system to transfer successfully to the University of California. Introduction to research, university writing and support programs. Focus on the history, educational pipeline and resources available to Formerly Incarcerated and System-Impacted students.
Berkeley Underground Scholar (BUS) Ambassador Program: BUS ambassadors provide a space for system-impacted and formerly incarcerated students to succeed and prepare them for after community college. Ambassadors are students at community colleges responsible to start a club, connect with the transfer center, and reach out to formerly incarcerated students. There are currently 15 ambassadors throughout California.
- Leadership Institute
- Rise Scholars
- LAARP
Cohort Courses
Poetry
Fall 2025
9/1/25 - 12/21/25
Section #25182
Mondays and Wednesdays
6:50pm - 8:15pm
E3-407
Professor Obed Silva
College Reading and Composition I Plus 3-Hour Lab
Fall 2025
9/1/25 - 12/21/25
Sections #24825/#24826
Mondays and Wednesdays
6:50pm - 9:50pm
E3-421
Professor Lorena Madrigal