Alex Guzman, Isabella Santana, Marianas Fernandez, and Quyn-Thy Hoang in Partnership with the Gateways Project

Watsonville, California

The Gateways Project, initiated in 2019 by students within the Everett Program at UC Santa Cruz, seeks to address the systemic issues within the prison system that contribute to high recidivism rates in California. The project strives to equip incarcerated individuals with the tools necessary for successful reintegration into society and to reduce recidivism rates. Through the implementation of practical solutions such as tech literacy classes and digital storytelling methods, the project aims to ease barriers to community re-entry and contribute to positive outcomes for individuals post-incarceration. Ultimately, the Gateways Project embodies a commitment to social justice, education, and community empowerment, seeking to create a more inclusive and supportive society for all. 

Our project continues the work of past Gatewas initiatives addressing criminal justice issues through anti-recidivism action. Our proposed tech solution for The Gateways Project revolves around the development of an integrated digital curriculum that combines educational tools, community engagement features, and technical support. This project aims to address the specific needs of incarcerated individuals in a peer-to-peer learning environment. Our assistance in teaching the final class in a three-course series will focus on web design and development through the use of Adobe Dreamweaver. The year’s program includes a 6 week long series of classes teaching Adobe Dreamweaver, twice a week at the Rountree Correctional Facility in Watsonville, California.

Funding: $2,600.00