CENTURY CIRCLE GRANT HELPS EXPAND NORCO COLLEGE INITIATIVE

At its November meeting, the RCCD Foundation Board of Directors approved a $5,000 program grant from the Foundation's Century Circle fund to help Norco College establish a new student organization. This initiative, called "Liberated Scholars", aims to support students who have been impacted by incarceration. The Century Circle grant will be used by the College to expand Liberated Scholars from its current status as a student interest group to a formal student organization recognized and supported by the Associated Students of Norco College.

In 2017, Norco College established an Associate's Degree for Transfer program in partnership with the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC), a medium-security state prison for men located less than one mile from the campus. Based on the fundamental belief that education is the key to ending cycles of incarceration, the College has developed a model program to support the college success of students in custody. Now, the College is working to expand the program to include academic and workforce opportunities to this traditionally under-resourced population. Expansion includes the development of on-campus resources for current CRC students who are transitioning out of prison, in addition to formerly incarcerated students who are already part of the campus community.

"The RCCD Foundation Board of Directors is proud to support this important Norco College initiative through our Century Circle program," said Judy Horan, RCCD Foundation Board President. "We are grateful to the donors who have contributed to this fund to make these sorts of projects possible."

Century Circle is an annual giving program that provides funding for special projects and priority initiatives throughout the Riverside Community College District. Donors who contribute $1,000 or more per year to the Century Circle fund play an integral role in the RCCD Foundation's endeavor to assist the colleges with their most pressing needs and priority initiatives. College leaders can apply for grants at any time of the year, and funding requests are considered by the Foundation Board based on specific criteria and requirements.

To learn more about the Century Circle program, please contact the RCCD Foundation at (951) 222-8626 or foundation@rccd.edu