WED-028 - Teaching Freedom: Leadership, Education, and Mental Health for Thriving After Release

Brief Abstract Summary: Discover how TTC College’s innovative reintegration programs—implemented within California’s prisons and jails—reduce recidivism, promote mental health equity, and foster leadership development. Learn how our framework integrates peer education, behavioral health assessments, mentoring, and job placement services to prepare participants for success beyond incarceration. Explore specific tools such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral strategies, and life skills workshops designed to promote emotional resilience and job readiness. Gain actionable insights into how cross-sector collaborations leverage Servant Leadership principles and technology to support reintegration. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to build equity-focused programs that drive sustainable success and wellness in their communities.

Detailed abstract description: TTC College’s innovative reintegration programs are redefining the path from incarceration to community leadership by embedding anti-racist curricula and culturally responsive practices at every stage. This session explores how our integrated framework—combining peer education, behavioral health assessments, mentoring, and job placement services—empowers participants to thrive beyond incarceration. Rooted in Servant Leadership and Transformational Leadership theories, our programs prepare participants to lead by example, fostering empathy, accountability, and personal growth. Attendees will learn how these frameworks, alongside intentional cultural responsiveness, create an inclusive learning environment that addresses the unique needs of marginalized populations, particularly Black and Latinx communities impacted by systemic racism.

With real-world examples from Valley State Prison, Lancaster State Prison, Men’s Central Jail, and Twin Towers Correctional Facility, we will demonstrate how culturally tailored peer education integrates motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral strategies, and life skills workshops to build emotional resilience and job readiness. Our anti-racist curricula ensure that participants engage with material that affirms their identities and lived experiences, cultivating a sense of belonging and agency. Mentorship, aligned with Servant Leadership principles, reinforces leadership through service, empowering participants to support each other and their communities while promoting mental wellness.

This session is designed for professionals seeking actionable strategies to develop or enhance equity-driven, culturally responsive programs. Through two interactive exercises, participants will apply our models to real-world scenarios. In the first exercise, participants will collaborate on case studies based on actual outcomes, identifying key factors that contributed to successful reintegration and mental wellness. In the second exercise, attendees will design leadership frameworks that integrate anti-racist curricula, behavioral health tools, technology, and mentoring to address the needs of system-impacted individuals.

Aligned with the Waves of Change theme, this presentation demonstrates how culturally responsive education and cross-sector collaboration can promote equity and wellness. As behavioral and mental health crises continue to disproportionately impact marginalized populations, our approach offers practical solutions that leverage education, technology, and leadership development to create sustainable change. Attendees will leave with tools and insights to implement in their own organizations, transforming how they engage with vulnerable populations and building pathways to success and wellness beyond incarceration.