The College Gateway Program at Red Rocks Community College is committed to ending the cycle of incarceration and generational poverty. One of the key proponents of the program is changing the way that the community views individuals with criminal records, which they do through direct advocacy within the community. Returning Citizens Through a Different Lens, a presentation by Miriam Nowrouzi of the University of Denver, helps dispel myths about formerly incarcerated individuals. The core mission of the organization is to work with people who face immense barriers to sustainable, independent living after incarceration, and to move students from entry coursework through to graduation. Staff within the program believe strongly in the power of education to break the cycle of recidivism in the community, and to help people on the path to permanent recovery from chemical dependence. Their efforts aim to improve the quality of life for all participants, and for the community around them.