Terrance Stewart
“Compton College gave me an opportunity to improve my life circumstances when so many
others wouldn’t,” said Terrance Stewart, a 2010 graduate of Compton College. Stewart
credits his experiences at Compton College for restoring his self-esteem, building
his leadership abilities, and giving him a strong foundation upon which to pursue
higher degrees.
“There is something special about Compton College and the people who work there,”
Stewart explains. “Faculty members and administrators recognized my potential and
always encouraged me to do more. They recommended I join student government; no one
had ever asked me to be something important.” To aid in his success at community college,
he took advantage of every resource available to him such as financial aid, Extended
Opportunity Programs and Services, academic counseling, tutoring, the student worker
program, TRIO, the Transfer Center, and Upward Bound.
The strong foundation at Compton College laid the path for Stewart to transfer and
graduate cum laude from the University of California, Riverside with a bachelor’s
degree in ethnic studies, then earning a master’s degree in higher education administration.
During the UC Riverside 2013 commencement ceremony, Stewart was honored with the Marguleas/Weiman
Humanitarian Award (one of many awards he’s received), which is presented to a graduating
student who is recognized as a “true volunteer and role model.” He was also named
2011-2012 Student Organization President of the Year for his leadership and service
to the UC Riverside Student Disability Union and the following year the Student Disability
Union was named Organization of the Year.
Since 2019, Terrance Stewart has worked at the Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASI)
in three positions with increasing responsibility. Currently, Stewart is a Time Done
national training director for the Time Done Project at the Alliance for Safety and
Justice, a national organization dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system
and the advancement of racial and economic justice. Stewart works with local Time
Done chapters across the country to develop and implement needed training programs
to help remove barriers to success for those rebuilding their lives after past convictions.
He has also led teams of individuals who advocate for criminal justice reform at state
governments, speaking with elected officials as agents of change. He trains groups
to use this advocacy framework to meet with elected officials.
Time Done is an organization that is more than 250,000 strong, working together to
build resilient families, support systems, and communities by organizing to end post-conviction
poverty. Stewart’s overall involvement with the Alliance for Safety and Justice and
Time Done originally began at its founding in 2014. He works tirelessly to help remove
obstacles to redemption for individuals with past convictions and has a strong desire
to create a more equitable and inclusive society.
Stewart has more than 10 years of experience in advocacy and policy reform related
to the justice system. He continues to play a pivotal role in helping to advance transformative
policies, including AB 1076, AB 1008, and Propositions 47 and 57. His policy development
work includes building coalitions in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, as well
as statewide and nationally, to pass transformational policies such as SB 731, and
to advocate for fair housing policies and practices. He is an exemplary model for
those impacted by the justice system, showing what transformation fueled by focus
and dedication can achieve.
As a result of Stewart’s advocacy contributions, in just under two years, the Department
of Justice has expunged nearly 12 million older criminal records due to the passage
of AB 1076 in 2019. The expunged records included 600,000 older records of arrests
that never resulted in charges being filed and 150,000 eligible older conviction records.
In addition, under SB 731, the law was amended to move the retroactive date from 2005
to 1973 for eligible records expungement.
His dedication to youth and at-risk youth is evident in his passion for education
and his founding of a youth organization called “Can’t Can’t” which teaches young
students and adolescents the importance of positive thoughts and actions as they navigate
family and life challenges. “I like to help others increase their self-esteem,” said
Stewart. “I want them to know they can change and make a difference in society, their
lives have agency, and that anyone can be what they seek to be with hard work and
dedication.”
While attending Compton College, Stewart served as Associated Student Body vice president
and began his leadership and future advocacy journey. As a member of student government,
he participated in several programs and advocacy activities such as Rock the Vote,
the Earth Day recycling program, fundraisers for student activities, presented as
the student government representative at Board of Trustees meetings, and helped at
the Student Resource Center (for students with physical and mental disabilities).
All of Stewart’s higher education and collective professional and advocacy experience
now lead to his next goal of achieving his dream of becoming a university professor.
“Today, I am a dedicated father, a committed community advocate, and a man determined
to make a positive and lasting impact,” said Stewart.