Bidhan Roy’s recent visit to the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla shed light on the profound challenges faced by incarcerated individuals upon reentry into society.
During his visit, Roy encountered a woman who, despite having the opportunity for a parole hearing after more than two decades in prison, chose to refuse it.
She expressed her fear of the outside world, revealing that all her family had died, and her only connections were with gang members from her past.
Her poignant statement, ‘on paper I look ready. I’m not going to commit any crimes, but I don’t know anyone,’ resonated deeply with Roy, who serves as the director of Cal State LA’s Prison Graduation Initiative (PGI).
This encounter inspired Roy to broaden the focus of this year’s PGI Convening, which will address the needs of recently paroled individuals and their families.
Set to take place from noon to 6 p.m. on April 23 at the University-Student Union Plaza, the second annual convening revolves around the theme of ‘Community and Careers.’
The event will feature a variety of workshops, around 30 exhibitors, and practical services such as tattoo removal and job search assistance.
Moreover, it will include a healing circle and an official campus tour for anyone interested in attending Cal State LA.
“We changed the convening from being an exhibit to being a very practical resource fair where our alumni every year, whenever they get out, can come and network with people,” Roy noted.
The goal is to connect attendees with resources essential for their success and foster a sense of belonging to the campus community.
Founded in 2016, PGI is California’s first in-person bachelor’s degree completion program for incarcerated students.
Since its inception, it has graduated over 50 students from the California State Prison, Los Angeles in Lancaster, with some completing their degrees at Cal State LA post-parole.
This year, PGI expanded its offerings to include degrees at the California Institution for Women and the California Institution for Men in Chino.
Currently, the initiative serves around 140 students across the three correctional facilities.
Among the alumni expected to attend this year’s convening is Allen Burnett, part of PGI’s first graduating cohort in 2021.
After his release, Burnett pursued a master’s degree in communication and founded The Prism Way, a nonprofit aimed at supporting re-entry, behavioral health, and self-empowerment for justice-involved individuals.
“It’s important for alumni to come back and help people who have been paroled get a leg up and find opportunities,” Roy stated, emphasizing the invaluable insights that alumni can provide due to their lived experiences.
The convening will also target family members of PGI students, aiming to encourage young individuals who may doubt their potential for attending college.
By inspiring these youths, the event hopes to cultivate the next generation of students who will attend Cal State LA.
Scheduled to align with Los Angeles County’s ‘Second Chance Month’ in April and ‘Reentry Week’ from April 22 to 27, the convening reflects ongoing initiatives aimed at supporting the formerly incarcerated.
During this month, the county’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD) has organized resource fairs and networking events across all supervisorial districts.
Among the exhibitors at Cal State LA’s convening will be JCOD, Homeboy Industries, California Community Colleges’ Rising Scholars Network, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Cal State LA Career Center, and many other organizations.
image source from：https://news.calstatela.edu/2025/04/18/prison-graduation-initiative-convening-to-provide-networking-opportunities-for-paroled-students/
