Sometimes it just takes a...
Second Chance

BY ABEL HARO
Staff Writer

Second chances are few and far between for those whose mistakes landed them in the California criminal system, but for about 40 City College students a fresh start is on the horizon thanks to the Second Chance program.

Tobori Wright-Love (right), a peer advisor at Second Chance, offers counseling to City College student Harash Patang at the EOPS office. Photos by Colleen Cummins

Second Chance, which is a part of City College's Extended Opportunities, Programs and Services, gives formerly incarcerated students an opportunity to prove themselves as legitimate scholars and contributing members of society.

"This is an ignored population. We want to level the playing field. We let them know there's a place for you here," said Outreach Director Charles Moore.

For the past seven years, Second Chance has been a much-needed resource at City College. In 1996, counselors at EOPS saw the need to develop services for students in the criminal system, and established a program that would specifically address the issues of basic math and English skills, decreasing the dropout rate, vocational training and degree and transfer programs.

"I enjoy working with this population, seeing them grow up," said Alvin Jenkins, director of EOPS. "They see education as very intimidating, something unattainable. We change that."

Second Chance requires its students to enroll in a minimum of nine units and meet regularly with their EOPS counselor. The students receive access to EOPS workshops and tutoring, priority registration, book vouchers, and bus and food passes. They can also enroll in vocational certificate programs such as real estate, fashion design, culinary arts, graphic design, and welding.

Joyce Owens

Charles Moore

Tobori Wright-Love

"The homework keeps them out of trouble, essentially keeping them out of jail," said Tobori Wright-Love, a former Second Chancer who is now a peer advisor working with the program's female population. Tobari helps students "polish their skills, whatever they may be. We want them to know no matter what they did in the past they have the chance at a clean future."

The program receives referrals from institutions like the California Youth Authority, the Youth Guidance Center and the Sheriff's Department. "Prisoners have written in, telling us they look forward to getting out and working with us," Moore said. The referrals are pre-screened to avoid violent offenders.

"Safety is an issue," Jenkins said. "The institutions we work with know what we are looking for. If a person cannot be integrated into a student atmosphere, we cannot help. Ultimately, our reputation rests on them and we let them know violence will not be tolerated."

"Prison changes personalities, paradigms shift. Their old ways won't work here," Jenkins added.

"Second Chance allows students to trust again. We teach them to respect people. Those who are determined will make it," Program Coordinator Joyce Owens said.

The program's impressive record seems to back Owens's assertion. Over half of Second Chance's students maintain a passing grade-point average, while six earned Dean's Honors. Three students transferred to San Francisco State University last semester.

"The program is very beneficial. It showed me a modern approach to higher learning," said Albert Weber, a Second Chancer who has been at City for one year and who hopes to transfer to the University of California to study criminal justice. "At the same time I learn how to avoid problems. Learning to be successful and recovering from my dark past was really important."

Many students have gone on to succeed, and some have gone on to receive master's degrees and doctorates. Others, like Willie Tipton, chose to give back to the program and became counselors.

"The program really helped me with my educational plan and with staying focused," said Tipton, a substance-abuse counselor who has been on the Dean's List for the past three semesters and has received a scholarship. Tipton is earning his A.A. degree this semester and hopes to study social work at SFSU.

"We don't want to close any doors," said Manuel La Fontaine, a former gang member who is now a Second Chance peer advisor. "We will take them by the hand if need be to get them trained to make it in the real world."

"I offer personal support. I let them know I've been locked up. I went through the same thing you're going through. You too can do it," La Fontaine said.

The combination of academic rigor and personal attention has proven to be a potent force for setting troubled individuals on the right path.

"It's important for the students to open themselves and share," Owens said. "Ultimately they have to learn to trust. They are coming from institutions where this is not the norm. Our students are strong, potential leaders. We are here to develop that leadership."

EOPS Services Counseling Placement test interpretation Peer advising, mentoring Tutoring Book Vouchers Priority Registration CSU/UC transfer fee waivers Food passes Bus passes

Second Chance counselors are looking forward to a mentorship program and perhaps an expansion of their services in the future.

"I'd really like to see us collaborate with other city and county services," said Jenkins. "We need to create a network for housing and jobs."

The program administrators also hope to see both community colleges and four-year universities, emulate them. There are 103 community colleges in California (and 33 prisons). These schools offer a terrific opportunity for reforming ex-convicts and giving them another chance at an honest, productive life.

Perhaps La Fontaine put it best: "He who opens a college door closes a prison cell."