You Belong

You Belong is a group of students, faculty, and staff who come together to facilitate a more accessible and inclusive campus for students impacted by the criminal legal system. If you are a student at UB who has experienced incarceration, who has a family member who has experienced incarceration, or who is passionate about expanding the accessibility of campus to those who are system-impacted, join us!

While system-impacted students face a number of barriers and challenges, it is important to recognize that they also bring numerous strengths and assets to educational settings, workplaces, and communities. Research has shown that many system-impacted individuals demonstrate:

Academic & Professional Strengths

  • Strong work ethic and dedication to proving themselves
  • Resourcefulness in finding solutions with limited resources
  • Critical thinking skills developed through navigating complex systems
  •  Commitment to educational goals often exceeding that of traditional students

Community & Leadership Strengths

  • Leadership potential, particularly in creating pathways for others
  • Strong motivation to create positive change in their lives and communities
  • Ability to connect with and mentor others from similar backgrounds
  • Ability to recognize and build community across differences

Lived Experience & Advocacy Strengths

  • Advocacy skills developed through self-advocacy
  • Lived expertise that can inform policy and program development
  • Transformative perspectives that challenge status quo thinking
  • Experience navigating (and resisting) systems of oppression and control

Interpersonal Strengths & Resilience

  • Empathy and understanding for others facing challenges
  • Resilience and perseverance in overcoming significant obstacles
  • Unique perspectives that enrich discussions and problem-solving
  • Capacity to adapt and persist in the face of uncertainty or instability

Supporting system-impacted individuals means recognizing and building upon these strengths rather than focusing solely on deficits or challenges. As many programs have demonstrated, when institutions adopt asset-based approaches that value the expertise and potential of system-impacted individuals, everyone benefits from the diverse perspectives and contributions they bring, and this is the goal of You Belong.

Here are some of the many things we are currently working on. We welcome your assistance, expertise, and input!

  • A training aimed at faculty and staff akin to “safe zone” training for LGBTQ students
  • Language guides for campus offices and instructors
  • Mentoring structures for system-impacted students
  • Campus news stories that highlight the achievements of system-impacted students
  • Establishing scholarships for system-impacted students
  • Research to understand the needs of system-impacted students at UB and ECC
  • Creating pathways for system-impacted students from regional community colleges to UB

If you are interested in getting involved in any capacity, please join our working group by emailing Dr. Mary Nell Trautner (trautner@buffalo.edu).