RISE Scholars serves current and future students directly impacted by the justice-carceral system and helps them navigate the higher education system. We empower individuals who have experienced incarceration, are formerly or currently detained youth, and/or are on probation.​ 
Our goal is to help you achieve your educational and career goals!

Mission

RISE Scholars educates and empowers formerly incarcerated students or those impacted by the criminal justice system with the knowledge and resources to make their educational or vocational journey at Río Hondo College successful.

History

RISE Scholars started as a question posed by Student Success Coach at the time and first Manager of the program, Joe Louis Hernandez, “What is Río Hondo College doing to support our formerly incarcerated and system impacted students on campus?”

This prompted the development of a Task Force, spearheaded by the Student Equity Office, which brought together various stakeholders on campus to brainstorm possible answers and solutions to this need. RISE Scholars was officially formed at Río Hondo College in the spring of 2017 and has grown exponentially since then.

Program Highlights

  • 2020 NASPA Mena-Valdez Award recipient for Outstanding New Program
  • The RISE Scholars program is proud to have been selected as 1 of 20 community colleges in the state of California chosen to participate in the 2019 Leadership Institute for California Community College-Serving Formerly Incarcerated Students. The institute was collaboratively hosted by The Stanford Criminal Justice Center, California Community Colleges Chancellors Office, and Renewing Communities, a project of the Opportunity Institute.

Location

  • Visit us in the Scholar’s Hub in SU 206!
  • We have computers, study space, printing, class materials snacks and more!
  • -To schedule an appointment or have any questions, please call or text us at (323) 374-3824 (Google Voice).

Join Us at RISE

Fall 2024 Office Hours:
Monday-Wednesday: 8:30am to 5:00pm
Thursday: 9:30am to 6:00pm
Friday: 8:00am to 2:00pm

 

Contact Us:
Phone: (562) 463-7701
Email: [email protected]
Location: Learning Resource Center (LRC), Room 130