From Incarceration to Graduation: Khalifa's Journey of Redemption and Impact

As the former communications coordinator for the UC Irvine Underground Scholars Program and current project specialist for Rising Scholars at Irvine Valley College, Khalifa helps students who are currently or formerly incarcerated as well as those impacted by the incarceration of a family member. “The colleges have really been receptive to learning from my lived experience,” he says. “Every kid deserves a chance to go to college. I just want to make a positive impact.”

Khalifa was born in a rough area of South Los Angeles. After his parents divorced, his father, a heroin addict, was incarcerated. His mother, fearing gang violence, moved the family 70 miles away to Perris. Unfortunately, a gang formed in Khalifa’s new neighborhood. And because his mother still commuted to work in Los Angeles, he spent much of his time with this group.

“I learned everything from those older guys. How to get weed. I was smoking since I was 11. I was kicked out of every school in my community. One day, when I was 15, a group of guys decided they wanted to commit a burglary up the street from my house. A friend and I decided not to get involved but then changed our minds. When we got there, I saw the homeowner was hurt on the floor. At this point, I was callous. I was more concerned with not getting in trouble. So I grabbed some chocolate from the kitchen counter and ran away. My friend said, ‘He’s dead.’ I didn’t want to believe it.”

Khalifa was arrested and sent to juvenile hall to await his trial. Four years later, he was found guilty of first-degree murder. He was tried as an adult and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. “At juvenile hall, I started attending church so I could have time out of my cell. And I started to realize I could change. There were people my age who were leaders and were spreading positive messages. And that was the first time I saw that. I got my high school diploma there. But then I was transferred to the adult system, to a high-security prison. No church. No school.”

Thirteen years into his incarceration, Khalifa was able to attend college through the Restorative Justice Program. As he was halfway to earning his associate’s degree, California’s “felony murder rule” was repealed, downgrading his sentence and leading to his release in 2020. Programs such as San Diego State University’s Project Rebound and UCI’s Underground Scholars Program helped Khalifa avoid homelessness and continue his education. Against all odds, he will attend his graduation this month having earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

“I’m convinced that our current carceral system is hurting society. We demonize people and when they get out, we don’t help them. They can’t get jobs or housing. That leads to recidivism. I want our communities to be safe. I want to fix inequity. I want to be that mentor for people like me. Help them get scholarships. For every person we reach, that’s one less victim of the system.”