The initiative
Second Chance Leadership Initiative™
A focus on reentry, growth, leadership and a meaningful role in community.
Second Chance College Re-entry Program
A second chance.
A new chapter.
Your education story can keep going. Explore college, meaningful work, leadership and a stronger connection to community.
A UYC GVI program in partnership with the City of Minneapolis.
Start the conversation
You bring the possibility.
Let’s explore the path.
Join the conversation at HBCU Twin Cities. Register for the Friday session, Saturday session or both. You can also visit The Urban Conservation for separate program launch updates.
Program launch details, eligibility, available support and college admission requirements will be shared separately.
Second Chance College Re-entry Program
Where you have been
is part of your story.
So is where you go next.
This program is about giving adults a second chance in education—including people returning to community after incarceration and those ready to reconnect with higher education after time away.
Through the Second Chance Leadership Initiative™, the Reentry Scholars Program brings an educational pathway into the conversation about reentry. Grounded in SAFE. ALIVE. FREE.™, it connects the goals of education, workforce development, leadership and successful community reintegration.
At HBCU Twin Cities, the program opens that conversation alongside the College, Career & Culture Summit. Explore possibilities, ask questions and begin thinking through a next step that fits your life.
This conversation is for you if…
- You are an adult thinking about starting or returning to college.
- You are rebuilding your life after incarceration and want to explore education as part of your next chapter.
- You want to connect education with career goals, personal growth and community leadership.
- You support adults in reentry and want to learn about the program.
One initiative. A connected pathway.
Education with
a wider purpose.
The educational pathway
Reentry Scholars Program
A place to explore higher education and the steps toward returning to learning.
The framework
SAFE. ALIVE. FREE.™
The foundation connecting education, practical pathways and community reintegration.
A UYC GVI program in partnership with the City of Minneapolis.
UYC · Urban Youth Conservation / The Urban Conservation
GVI · Group Violence Intervention
What we will explore
Possibility becomes
a next step.
The summit sessions introduce the program and invite questions across four connected areas.
Return to education
Explore what starting or returning to college could look like. Bring questions about finding a program, understanding admissions steps and building on your previous experience.
Connect learning to work
Consider how education, credentials and workforce development can connect to your career goals. Start identifying the skills you want to build and the opportunities you want to pursue.
Build leadership
Think about the strengths you already carry, the goals you want to set and the ways you can contribute to your family and community as you move forward.
Plan for reintegration
Talk through how education fits alongside work, family responsibilities and community life. Identify the questions, relationships and practical next steps that can help you keep moving.
Meet us at HBCU Twin Cities 2027
Make time for
your next chapter.
FRIDAY · FEBRUARY 19, 2027
3–5 PM
Second Chance College Re-entry Program
SATURDAY · FEBRUARY 20, 2027
Noon–2 PM
Second Chance College Re-entry Program
NorthPoint Conference Center
1256 Penn Avenue North, Suite 5200, Minneapolis, MN 55411
All times Central (CST).
Come with your questions about education, reentry and what you want your next chapter to look like. Detailed session activities and facilitators will be shared as they are confirmed.
Before you take the next step
Your questions
belong here.
Is this for adults returning to education?
Yes. The program is focused on a second chance in education for adults, including people returning to community after incarceration. The summit sessions are an opportunity to learn about the program and ask questions.
Is registering for a session the same as applying to college?
No. Second Chance session registration records your summit attendance plans and expresses your interest. Program enrollment, eligibility and college applications are separate steps. Each institution sets its own admissions requirements.
Can I learn about the program before it launches?
Yes. Complete the interest form to request launch updates and information about next steps, or visit the UYC program page to learn more.
Will college partners and facilitators be announced?
Specific participating institutions, facilitators and program arrangements will be shared as they are confirmed. You can request updates from the organizing team.