John R. Lewis College
John R. Lewis College opened its doors to students in 2002 and is rooted in a deep commitment to social justice. The college helps students form meaningful connections and come together to create tangible change and understanding.
Much of the college’s curriculum and programming—made possible through philanthropy—guides students in understanding social justice theory and putting it into practice. Notably, the college is home to the Soledad Prison Project and offers a course called Trans-Communal Peacemaking, taught by professor emeritus John Brown Childs.
The Soledad Prison Project brings six to eight UC Santa Cruz students into the Soledad Correctional Training Facility to study alongside a group of incarcerated men known as Semin Awak, meaning “one world.” The men enroll through UC Extension, and eight of the ten course sessions take place inside the prison, creating a powerful shared learning experience between the two student groups.
“We always want to be thinking about social justice and community from a global perspective, and when we think about global and international issues, we want to bring a social justice lens.“
—Kimberly Lau, College Nine and John R. Lewis College Provost
For students engaged in the college’s programming and majoring in feminist studies, the Sabrina Greenfield Memorial Scholarship offers additional support.
John R. Lewis College and College Nine also provide scholarships, apprenticeships, and social justice opportunities through their shared CoCurricular Programs Office (CoCo), including:
- The Practical Activism Conference, a popular event that connects students with experts and activists to explore justice-centered solutions.
- Opportunities for students to help develop and teach curriculum at both colleges.
- The Undeclared Scholars Program, which connects students with field experts and helps build professional networks.
Philanthropic support can help turn these visionary ideas into reality—funding innovative programs that unite social justice education with global engagement, and empowering the next generation of changemakers.