Riverside City College Hosts 4th Annual Supporting Successful Reentry Conference

Riverside City College (RCC), in partnership with colleges across the Inland Empire and Desert Region, hosted the 4th Annual Supporting Successful Reentry Conference on April 16, 2026. The event brought together students, educators, practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders committed to supporting justice-impacted individuals and advancing equitable reentry pathways.

Centered on this year’s theme, “Breaking Cycles, Building Futures,” the conference highlighted the transformative role of higher education in supporting reentry journeys and long-term success.

Held on RCC’s campus, the conference featured keynote speakers, panel discussions, and workshops focused on education, mental health, and career pathways. Attendees also engaged in a resource fair connecting them to legal aid, housing support, and workforce development opportunities, as well as networking sessions that fostered collaboration across sectors.

“This conference reflects our deep commitment to ensuring that justice-impacted students are not only welcomed, but supported in meaningful and lasting ways,” said Elizabeth Villegas, Student Success Coordinator for the Rising Scholars Program at Riverside City College. “Through education, access to resources, and community partnerships, we are helping individuals break cycles and build futures rooted in opportunity, dignity, and success.”

The event was coordinated in collaboration with regional educational partners and reinforced RCC’s leadership in advancing equity-driven initiatives that support historically underserved populations. Previous years the conference has been hosted at UCR and CSUSB.

“Creating strong educational partnerships is essential to building sustainable pathways for reentry,” said Adrienne Grayson, Ed.D., Associate Dean of Educational Partnerships. “This conference brings together the voices and resources needed to ensure justice-impacted individuals have access to the tools, networks, and opportunities necessary to thrive.”

The Supporting Successful Reentry Conference continues to serve as a vital platform for dialogue, resource-sharing, and collective action across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. By centering lived experiences and systems change, RCC and its partners are working to expand access to education and create pathways toward economic mobility and community reintegration.