Breaking Barriers
By Kristel Cosio
At one of the world’s most prestigious universities, a group of students overcome their pasts to actualize their bright futures
Breaking Barriers follows a group of system-impacted students at Cal-Berkeley who face significant challenges as formerly incarcerated and system-impacted individuals pursuing higher education.
The film also highlights the importance of policy change to dismantle systemic barriers and support education for the formerly incarcerated.
About the Issue
Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals face significant barriers to education, including limited access to educational programs, lack of resources, and the stigma associated with a criminal record. These obstacles often prevent them from obtaining valuable skills or credentials, hindering their ability to successfully reintegrate into society and find stable employment upon release.
Organizations like Underground Scholars creates a pathway for incarcerated, formerly incarcerated and system impacted individuals into higher education, building a prison-to-school pipeline through recruitment, retention, advocacy, wellness, and career services.
IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
Kristel used her film to spotlight the systemic barriers formerly incarcerated individuals face in accessing higher education and to advocate for policy reforms that remove those obstacles.
Campaign highlights:
Breaking Barriers was featured regularly on CCTV across California prisons.
The film screened at five California universities, reaching 350+ students—many system-impacted.
At UC Irvine, a post-screening panel with Kristel and participants created space for reflection and community healing.
Screened with CA’s Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson; led to interest from the Director of the Department of Social Services.
Won a Silver Telly Award; accepted into the San Francisco Frozen Film Festival.
Kristel’s film and story reached over 65,000 people nationwide.
Special thanks to the following partner organizations:
Universidad de Guadalajara (UdG) & ITESO
Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara
San Francisco Frozen Film Festival
Merritt College, Underground Scholars Ambassador Program
University of California Irvine (UC Irvine), Underground Scholars
UC Berkeley Ethnic Studies
Underground Scholars UC Santa Barbara
Project Rebound - California State University, San Bernardino
Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson (OFCO)
Anti-Recidivism Coalition & Youth Law Center
Justice on Trial Film Festival
CDCR DRP-TV (Division of Rehabilitative Programs – Television)
California Department of Social Services