Combat Poverty and Systemic injustice

Underground Scholars Initiative creates pathways to a UC higher education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. We serve hundreds of incarcerated students each year by providing critical needs including transportation, housing, food; assistance securing financial aid; academic, career, and mental health advising; and peer mentorship. Our efforts are rooted in the fundamental belief that higher education should provide the foundation for self-expression, creativity, and critical thinking.

This year was hard for everyone and we saw financial stress send many of our members to the brink of quitting school. We know that just a little help goes a long way.  After surveying our members we found that students simply needed money for food, rent, and medical bills.  Imagine trying to work on a term paper and your hungry, uncertain of your living circumstances, and struggling with the post-traumatic stress of incarceration. It's not easy.  Most of our members have been trained by society to take responsibility for their circumstances and so many of us don't want to ask for help when we need it.  But when we did a confidential survey we found that students needed financial assistance and they needed it now.

We are asking for your help so that we can create a fund for formerly incarcerated and systems impacted members to receive a financial award of up to $100 a month.  Your donation will be the reason some of our members can see a therapist or can take a day off to focus on school.  $100 a month can pay for student parents' electricity bill or be the last amount of money needed for rent.  With your contribution, we can help to ensure that students in need receive essential financial support.

We need your help. Our members are suffering while trying to make it through college. There is no reason why previously incarcerated students shouldn't have access to daily needs like food and medical care.  Your donation goes directly to students to help them focus more on school and less on survival.  Anything helps and your donations change lives.

We need your help. Our members are suffering while trying to make it through college. There is no reason why previously incarcerated students shouldn't have access to daily needs like food and medical care.  Your donation goes directly to students to help them focus more on school and less on survival.  Anything helps and your donations change lives.