Transitioning Minds Fresh Start Clinic Supports Nearly 30 Community Members

Transitioning Minds hosted another successful Fresh Start Legal Clinic at Riverside City College, providing free expungement support and legal guidance to nearly 30 students and community members seeking to move forward from past convictions.

 

The clinic brought together attorneys and paralegals, Transitioning Minds club volunteers, UCR Underground Scholars, and RCC student volunteers to assist participants through the expungement process. Services included intake support, record review, form preparation, declaration support, final packet review, and guidance on filing and service instructions.

 

This year’s clinic also reflected intentional growth from previous events. After reviewing feedback from past clinics, the Transitioning Minds team worked to improve the day-of structure and client flow. With the support of the club’s co-advisor, the team created a more organized event process that helped clients move through each step more efficiently while protecting confidentiality and reducing confusion. The updated flow was successful and helped volunteers, attorneys, and paralegals better coordinate services throughout the day.

 

A special highlight goes to Joshua Stevens, Transitioning Minds Club secretary and Rising Scholars ambassador, whose knowledge and leadership played an important role in the clinic’s success. Joshua helped guide volunteers through the preparation of expungement forms, a detailed and important part of the process. His ability to lead, explain, and support others reflected the kind of peer leadership and community advocacy that Transitioning Minds continues to promote.

 

Expungement services can provide meaningful benefits for individuals who are working to rebuild their lives. Although an expungement does not erase a person’s past, it can help reduce barriers to employment, housing, education, licensing, and other opportunities. For many participants, taking this step represents more than a legal process—it is part of reclaiming stability, dignity, and access to future possibilities.

 

The clinic also served as a powerful leadership and learning opportunity for club members and student volunteers. Volunteers gained hands-on experience in event coordination, client support, legal clinic operations, confidentiality practices, and community advocacy. Through this work, students were able to see firsthand how organized peer support and campus-community partnerships can create real impact.

 

This work also reflects the broader mission and recognition of Transitioning Minds. The club was recently awarded the Humanitarian Award by ASRCC, a meaningful acknowledgment of its continued commitment to service, advocacy, and support for formerly incarcerated and system-impacted students and community members.

 

Transitioning Minds is grateful to the attorneys, paralegals, RCC students, UCR Underground Scholars, Rising Scholars, ASRCC, RCC, and all volunteers who contributed their time, knowledge, and care. The success of the Fresh Start Clinic demonstrates the importance of creating spaces where system-impacted individuals and community members can receive support, access resources, and take meaningful steps toward a fresh start.

 

Through continued collaboration, Transitioning Minds remains committed to advocating for formerly incarcerated and system-impacted students while building pathways of support, empowerment, and opportunity for the broader community.