Education Justice Rising Scholars

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.

Flyer (PDF)

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

Interest Form

Meet the Team

Elizandro Umaña
Coordinator
umanae@elac.edu
323-265-8609

Elizandro Umaña was born and raised in the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Westlake District and pre-gentrified Echo Park. Elizandro is the proud son of Salvadoran refugee parents who migrated to the U.S. during the Salvadoran Civil War. His lived experiences and community reinforced a passion for social justice. As a first-generation college student, Elizandro studied Sociology and Latin American Studies at Cal State LA. His research interests include coloniality, racial capitalism, policing, criminalization, immigration, critical pedagogy, and Central American Studies.

Elizandro joined the East Los Angeles College Student Services family in fall 2015. There, Elizandro co-founded the ELAC Safe Zone Coalition, serving as a trainer to center the experience of undocumented students and LGBT+ students at ELAC; Co-directed the ELAC Male Leadership Academy (2016-2018), providing mentoring and academic support to men of color; Coordinated GO East LA (2015-2019), a college and career pathway program in partnership with LAUSD & Cal State LA, Coordinated the Los Angeles College Promise Program (2017-2019). Currently, Elizandro is a staff coordinator for ELAC's Dream Resource Center, and ELAC's Education Justice Scholars Program serving undocumented students and formerly incarcerated students.

Beyond his passion for education and social justice, Elizandro enjoys being near the water swimming and enjoying the sun, out in nature hiking or camping, listening to music, and going on long road trips to experience the amazing world we live in and photographing the journey.

elizandro headshot

Services

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.

  • 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