Hi, I’m Miguel Beltran, a first-generation system-impacted, Chicano scholar from Glendale, California with deep roots in Northeast Los Angeles. I earned my A.A. In sociology with Honors from Pasadena City College (2021) and my B.A. also in sociology with College Honors from UCLA (2023), where I researched policing, neighborhoods, and community life as a McNair Research Scholar.

I completed my M.A. in Sociology at Columbia University (2024) through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), where I examined the post-9/11 expansion of surveillance in New York City by studying four major events: the 2009 bombing plot, 2010 Times Square attempt, 2016 Chelsea bombing, and 2017 West Side Highway truck attack.

I’m proud to be a Beyond the Bars Fellow and Columbia Center for Justice alumni, where I collaborated with the Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) supporting community-led justice reform efforts in New York.

Community and mentorship have guided my path. From supporting Puente students and CORE scholars at PCC to advocating for academic access with Underground Scholars at UCLA, I stay committed to expanding opportunity for students navigating systemic barriers. Today, I continue that same commitment as an Academic Peer Mentor with Los Angeles Room & Board, supporting formerly-incarcerated scholars transitioning into higher education.

I’m honored to have been selected to attend the INN Global Justice Convening in Cape Town, South Africa (April 14–16, 2026), a historic global gathering centered on justice, leadership, and solidarity. Since travel support is not covered, I’m raising $3,000 to cover my round-trip flight from LAX and essential travel logistics, including a buffer for price changes and unexpected costs. The lowest available fare found so far is $1,132, and once my flight is booked, I will share the receipt to confirm funds were used for travel. Remaining funds will go toward essential flight and travel logistics for Cape Town.

Thank you for believing in this journey. Every share and contribution helps make this possible.