INTRODUCTION
Open Gate Inc.
Open Gate, Inc. is an Oakland, CA based certified 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and facilitating
formerly incarcerated individuals through college education to
graduation and beyond. Open Gate, Inc. creates a welcoming and
structured environment that sees the dignity and potential in
our clients and strives to encourage and facilitate each client
to reach his or her best possible future. The County of Alameda has a large population of residents who are incarcerated. Open Gate, Inc. sees this group as potential students, graduates, productive members and future leaders of our community.
The results achieved to date indicate this philosophy and the structured approach to addressing the needs and establishing the roles and expectations for these students can be highly successful in the most challenging of environments and implies greater success can and will be achieved under the structured, nurturing and yet disciplined environment
prevalent at local community colleges.
Contributing to the County and the State
From its inception, Open Gate, Inc., has tied closely its vision mission and values to the hard economics of incarceration and the alternate path of education and a fulfilling contribution to society.
The cost to the State of California to incarcerate an individual is approximately $50,000 per year. In stark contrast, the cost to educate a formerly incarcerated individual is approximately $10,000 through the community college system, and still less than the cost of incarceration when the most capable and motivated enter the UC system.
This economic equation in itself is compelling, however, including the State of California recidivism rate of 74.1% and contrasting it with a zero recidivism rate of those in the Open Gate system, and a less than 15% instance of administrative parole breaches, reinforces both the economic and social equation for the members and Board of Open Gate Inc.
Open Gate essentially saves the taxpayer money while providing the wrap-around support, which enables formerly incarcerated members of society to reach their fullest level of positive contribution.
Prior Open Gate Program Results - College of Alameda, 2014/15
The details below provide a synopsis of results to date through the Open Gate philosophy and program of engagement at the College of Alameda.
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Student Cohort
27
students enrolled full-time (21 African American, 4 Latino, 1
Asian, 1 Armenian)
23 men, 4 women
Age range: 22-70
Length of incarceration: 8 months - 27 years
Enrollment
Fall 2014: 18 students enrolled and completed the semester
(100% retention)
Spring 2015: 12 students re-enrolled (66.6% retention)
25 % gained full-time employment and did not re-enroll
Spring 2015: 18 new students enrolled
3 students concurrently enrolled in U.C. Berkeley, with an
additional 4 enrolling for 2015/16.
Graduation / Recidivism Statistics
10 students graduated from the ATLAS Forklift/OSHA/Hazardous
Material Certification Program in March 2015. All were offered
and started new jobs within 3 weeks.
3 students graduated from the ATLAS Warehouse Logistics
Certification Program in August 2015. All enrolled and started
their first class at UC Berkeley the week of graduation.
0% recidivism for Open Gate students verses State of CA rate
of 74.1%.
Additional Achievements / Recognition
A structure leveraging Open Gate Mens Advisory Council (OG
MAC) established as the operating model for Open Gate
2 students won Peralta Colleges Foundation Scholarships
The founders are members of the Alameda County Sheriff's
Department, Operation My Home Town Committee.
Open Gate won the Peralta Colleges Foundation Classroom
Enrichment Grant of $1,000 which is used to fund concurrent
enrollment at U.C. Berkeley.
All students have a session with Wardrobe for Opportunity for
free styling and business attire funded by Corizon Health.
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Students Commitment
Each student is required to sign a contract between the student
and Open Gate stating student expectations, commitments, and
responsibilities. The contract clearly states the commitment
from Open Gate, Inc. to the student in supporting their goals,
aims and aspirations. This contract includes conditions of
enrollment and the benefits of being a participant of Open Gate.
Each student completes an Open Gate application for the
selection and assessment process. Each student is required to
have a high school diploma or a completed GED or equivalent for
most college courses. Students who do not have their GED or
equivalent can obtain it with the direction of the Open Gate,
Inc. staff. Students will be required to follow the college of
choice code of conduct. All students must have academic goals
and follow their Student Educational Plan. Each student is
required to attend weekly meetings with Open Gate staff and
counselor.
Each Open Gate student is required to actively participate in
mentoring and guiding students following in their path.
Graduates of Open Gate are encouraged to see themselves as part
of this community as they progress in academia and in their
careers, to build a widespread and supportive Open Gate Alumnus.
Through the program commitment to educate, motivate, lead,
and inspire, the students will be encouraged and expected to
demonstrate their commitment to each element of the program, to
each other, and to their college and community.
In support of this goal we have arranged for the students to
be supported by Wardrobe for Opportunity in Oakland. Wardrobe
for Opportunity provides high quality clothing and style
coaching to support and assist the elevation of aspiring and
committed individuals.
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Addressing Special Needs
In addition, a large section of those who have been formerly
incarcerated have learning disabilities. (Fifty-one percent
(51%) of current Open Gate students have learning disabilities).
This negatively impacts their educational opportunities and
plays an enormous role in their path to incarceration.
Additionally, many students suffer from depression,
Post-traumatic Stress, and other mental health disorders. These
students will benefit from access to the college mental health
professionals for counseling services and to obtain
documentation of their disability. This entitles them to DSPS
services and support under the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA).
Supplemental activities and support will exist for the Open Gate
students to recognize the behavioral and societal adjustments
required for a successful college experience and success in the
role as future leaders in their chosen career.
The supplemental activities and support include:
Required attendance at a pre-matriculation Welcome to Open
Gate induction week
Commitment to the vision, mission, values, and culture of Open
Gate, Inc.
Clarity on the commitment from Open Gate, Inc. to its students
Understanding the role of the Open Gate Student Club
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Overcoming Hidden Barriers - Selective Services
Selective Service enrollment is a federal requirement for
students to receive financial aid and all males between the ages
of 18-26 are required to register for service.
Most of our students were incarcerated at this age and have
not registered for Selective Service; this has proven to be a
huge barrier in obtaining financial aid.
Enrollment cannot be retroactive, but students can request a
status from selective service and can write a letter to
financial aid stating why they did not enroll. All potential
Open Gate students will receive assistance to help navigate
these very specific steps. All of our students who followed
these steps did receive financial aid, albeit later in the
semester.
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Open Gate Mens Advisory Council (OG MAC)
OG MAC is a group of influential formerly incarcerated men who
act as guides, leaders and mentors to Open Gate students and
participants. Their strength and wisdom has brought a great
stability and core underpinning to Open Gate and Open Gate, Inc.
Members of OG MAC are visible on all campuses to seed the growth
of further OG MAC groups and to act as mentors to new Open Gate
students and as advisors to faculty and staff./p>
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Open Gate Student Club
An Open Gate Student Club is established and supported to target students
already on campus who may have been formerly incarcerated. This
is also an efficient pathway for other students, faculty and
staff with an interest in supporting Open Gate to join and
support the growth of Open Gate.
As the program progresses through future class inductions,
members of the student club apply their knowledge and experience
of matriculation, financial aid and study techniques to assist
and support our new students. They also act as individual
mentors so that each Open Gate student has one-on-one support on
campus.
Open Gate Student Club will organize events on the campus to
raise awareness and support for the program. These events will
be free and publicized will include:
Spoken Words
Open Mic
Movie Night; followed by organized discussions
End of the Year event
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Behavioral and Societal Approach
Behavioral and Societal Approach
Many of the challenges faced by the target group are linked to
behavioral and societal attributes, which are addressed through
a specific stream of activities as part of Open Gate.
The target applicants are assessed and educated in both academic
and behavioral aspects. They are also coached on continued
demonstration of the values and behaviors expected and instilled
through Open Gate. They receive guidance on how these can
provide lasting benefit to the broader community and those who
follow.
These qualities and values are delivered through a structured
and methodical approach and measured both objectively and
subjectively through observation in practice.
The behavioral elements of the program include:
Weekly leadership classes with local business leaders,
educators and community leaders as guest speakers
Weekly check-in with OG MAC
One-on-one mentoring
Integration and Co-ordination with Existing Programs
Open Gate works in conjunction with already established programs
and departments on campuses including:
EOPS (ALL campus)
DSPS (ALL campus)
Mental Health Services (ALL campus)
Tutoring Services (ALL campus)
Striving Black Brothers (Chabot College)
Daraja Community (Chabot College)
Underground Scholars (UC Berkeley)
Second Chance (SF City College)
Street Scholars (Merritt College)
Advisory Board with representatives from key stakeholders including:
Santa Rita Jail
Chabot College
Oakland Public Library
Edgewater Parole Center Literacy Lab
Center Point Day Reporting Center, Oakland
Corizon Health Service
Abrami & Associates
College of Alameda
Youth Aid
Stanford Health Care
Longs Law Offices
Strategic Project Solutions (Gas & Oil Consultant)
SF City College
Oakland United
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