The Fleishman Career Center would like to highlight The Black Student Unions U-Turn Program. Below are questions we asked BSU with their responses related to the meaning and impact of their Program !
Can you explain what the U-Turn program is, how it is ran and how it began within the Black Student Union?
U-TURN is the Black Student Union’s mentoring program for incarcerated juveniles and girls in a group home, starting in 2004, after a parent observed the work we were doing in the community and wondered whether we could replicate it in an incarcerated setting. The program seeks to provide educational and recreational opportunities for the boys serving time and the girls residing at a group home, with a heavy emphasis on community building.
What Kind of impact do you believe this program has on its participants?
U-turn has a huge social impact on the juveniles and the volunteers because both parties don’t know what to expect when entering the space for the first time. Many volunteers have never done or experienced something like a U-turn before, and the same goes for the boys and girls in the facilities. Since the experience is novel to both parties, it gives room for both parties to learn how to grow to understand each other, allowing them to understand different perspectives.
How has the U-Turn program evolved since it first launched?
U-turn was started in 2004 and has been running for 22 years. The two biggest shifts the program has seen over the years are the addition of a girls’ program in 2025. While the girls’ facility does not have the same level of severity in charges, they have similar needs for mentorship to the boys, and we provide them with the same resources. Additionally, the program runs on a shifting schedule instead of only being on Sundays, and the dates change per semester.
What inspired BSU to focus specifically on supporting incarcerated Juveniles of color?
The creation of U-turn was inspired by one of our other existing programs that mainly targets youth of color, so that remains our main demographic. However, it is important to note that while there are people affected by the incarceration system who aren’t of color, there is a larger percentage of people of color, especially juveniles, found in the system because of the history of systemic racism in our country. Due to this, we try to focus our aim on juveniles of color to give those who are overlooked in the system due to biases and stereotypes a chance.
What transferable skills do BSU members or external members gain by participating in or leading U-Turn?(E.G. Communication, collaboration, active listening, etc.)
Members of this program gain leadership skills, communication tactics, and a higher sense of empathy. Often, as the program head of U-turn, I give one of the participants a chance to lead the activity for the day to provide a hands-on approach to the program, placing them in the position of learning how to communicate effectively. U-turn is a program that requires a huge amount of empathy because of the power that comes with working with a sensitive population, and after getting more comfortable in the program, you naturally become attuned to it.
Black Student Union Current Executive Board 25′-26′
BSU Spring 2026 Current interns
Participants of U-turn Program with Juvinelle in Middle
