Bruin Underground Scholars
Bruin Underground Scholars offers accessible, quality education to formerly incarcerated individuals here at ucla. they continue to foster a great sense of community and togetherness. read more about the important work that they do to give every student the best opportunity to thrive.
Mission Statement from site: "The Bruin Underground Scholars supports building a prison-to-school pipeline through recruitment, retention, and advocacy. By creating a pathway for formerly incarcerated and system impacted individuals into higher education, we directly challenge the stigmas associated with our community. By supporting a prison-to-school pipeline, the Bruin Underground Scholars Program cultivates a healthy community and pathway for formerly incarcerated and system impacted people to thrive in higher education."
the prison education program
from 2016 to now in 2024, the prison education program, founded by claudia pena and bryonn bain, has led courses within seven southern california carceral facilities. they seek to heal incarcerated individuals through access to higher education and increase their opportunities. In addition to the abolitionist and educational work that they do, they provide ucla students with the opportunity to join the movement. on their site, you may find details on courses at ucla that students can take to dive deeper into the systemic issue of incarceration, upcoming events, and ways to further pursue action through education and activism.
The Environmentalists of Color Collective at UCLA
THE ECC was brought together as a means of challenging the white-dominated conventions of the contemporary environmental justice movement by co-creating a healing space to amplify and prioritize the narratives, experiences, and needs of Black, Indigenous, and people of color environmentalists.
"We hope to expand the discourse past race and connect the intersections of class, gender, ability, nationality, and other backgrounds as it relates to environmental justice and sustainability. Our body works toward providing a platform for other marginalized identities within the environmental justice movement by inviting local environmental advocates for speaking engagements, co-creating toolkits for other environmental groups to utilize, and attending/co-sponsoring other events that emphasize inclusion and equity within the environmental justice movement." -aNGEL More (Director of ECC)
Nommo NewsMagazine
Nommo Newsmagazine is the Pan-Afrikan Newsmagazine at UCLA. Nommo is a Ki-Swahili term, which means “the magical power of the word.” Born out of the Civil Rights Movement, Nommo joined UCLA student media in 1969 and became the first ethnic student run publication at a public university in the United States.
"Nommo aims to uplift and amplify Pan-Afrikan voices, art, joys, accomplishments, issues, and struggles from a Pan-Afrikan perspective – all while recognizing and representing our community’s complex, diverse, and intersectional beliefs and identities. We seek to use the power of the written word to foster creativity, community, and political consciousness throughout the Pan-Afrikan diasporic community. While the white-dominated mainstream media consistently suppresses, excludes, exploits, and misrepresents Black voices and stories, Nommo serves as a beacon of truth, hope, resistance, and liberation" -Alexis Scott (STAFF WRiter)
Incarcerated Youth Tutorial Project
Formed by the Muslim Student Association over two decades ago, IYTP aims to break the school-to-prison pipeline by offering guidance and tutoring sessions to formerly incarcerated youth. they provide access to meaningful education and focus on creating a bond with the student to enhance their learning. on their site, you can find information about volunteering with iytp or other ways to help.
"IYTP aims to serve in combating the school-to-prison pipeline by working with youth in our community and educating students on campus about issues surrounding the carceral system." -Simrah Ahmed (Project Director)
Artistic Activism Coalition
Interested in further exploring the intersection of arts and activism?
mission statement from site: "The Artistic Activism Coalition at UCLA is a student organization working to educate and mobilize the community in addressing and advocating for topics that are crucial in our society today. Our mission is to give the students of UCLA a safe space to discuss and learn about various topics relating to social justice and activism, where they can use their artistic skills and passion as an vehicle for social awareness and change. The organization is all-inclusive, looking for people who are passionate about creating, learning, and advocacy."
