From Prison to Peer Advisor: Edwin Cruz's Journey to Redemption and Success

Edwin Cruz's Academic Achievement

• 🎓 Edwin Cruz celebrated his graduation from Cal State LA with a 3.9 GPA, earning him honors courts.
• 💡 He achieved this remarkable academic success while incarcerated, participating in the Prison Graduation Initiative (PGI).
• 🎓 This marked his second graduation, with his first being a commencement ceremony held within the prison walls.

Transition to Life After Incarceration

• 🌟 Shortly after his release from prison, Cruz began his new chapter as a peer support specialist at Prism Way.
• 🏢 Prism Way, founded by a former PGI grad, is a space for individuals impacted by the justice system, fostering reform and providing a platform for lived experience.
• 💼 Cruz, now wearing a business suit, is actively involved in leading experts in prison reform discussions.

Overcoming Challenges and Doubts

• ⛓️ Cruz spent 17 years incarcerated, serving a life sentence for a gang-related murder before being resentenced and released.
• 🧠 He describes the difficulty of obtaining his degree, particularly the self-doubt fueled by others telling him he wasn't good enough or smart enough.
• 👨‍🏫 Dr. Bean Roy, founder of PGI, expresses immense pride in Cruz and the four other graduates who walked in ceremony, highlighting the collective effort from faculty, administration, and families.

Future Aspirations and Rehabilitation

• 🚀 Cruz aims to pursue his master's degree and continue his journey of personal and professional growth.
• 🏠 He utilized transitional housing services to ease his reintegration into society after spending his young adult life incarcerated.
• 🤝 As a peer advisor, he now helps graduate new counselors, providing wraparound services for those re-entering society, emphasizing the development of essential skill sets.
• ✅ The environment at Prism Way, with its healing ambiance, reflects the importance of rehabilitation and creating citizens who can contribute positively.