After serving a 13-year prison sentence, Alberto (“Berto”) Lule enrolled in SBCC Transitions, a program providing guidance and access to college for individuals released from the criminal justice system. As a full-time student at SBCC, Berto earned all A’s in his art classes and was selected for a prestigious internship with the SBCC Atkinson Gallery, sponsored by the SBCC Foundation. This gave him the opportunity to work directly with professional artists to create and install their work.

Berto graduated in 2018 and was honored to be the student speaker at commencement. He transferred to UCLA, where he is studying art and working at the Hammer Museum. “The experience and mentorship I gained through serving as the gallery intern has led to so many amazing opportunities. None of this would have been possible without the SBCC Foundation.”

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