Jail time on anyone's record is like wearing invisible handcuffs permanently, but SF State's Project Rebound has been helping the previously incarcerated begin a new journey.

Founded in 1967 by John Erwin, and now run by director Jason Bell, Project Rebound is a program that helps people coming out of prison get into school, receive financial aid, volunteer in the Bay Area and integrate themselves into a group of people that can relate to one another's stories and support each other as they persue their dreams and passions.

"We get a ton of letters every month with people telling us how badly they want to start over," said staff member Jamie Lindsay. "The applicants usually write from jail. We usually want to know where they left off in their education and what they want to accomplish."

Project Rebound allows admission to people they feel can benefit from their program the most and who have a drive to succeed. If by any chance an applicant makes it into the program but doesn't get into SF State right away, they will still be admitted to Project Rebound's sister program, Second Chance, located at City College of San Francisco.

Second Chance offers the same services as Project Rebound but focuses a little more on raising students' grade point averages and helping them start at or return to SF State.

The admissions process is straightforward. Applicants simply need to fill out a questionnaire and drop it off at the office. If an applicant is accepted, they'll be sent an admissions packet, and if they weren't qualified, they will receive information for Second Chance.

"Everyone in Rebound acts like such a good support system for each other because after being incarcerated you feel this stigma of not being good enough," Project Rebound member Eric Durnell said. "The program helped me see what I could achieve and is teaching me that anything is possible."

Durnell, was incarcerated for five years and eight months and heard about the program through word of mouth in prison. He attended SF State before he was incarcerated and said that even after he graduates in 2010 he will continue to be a part of Rebound.

"This program helps out with things that may seem small but make a difference, like food vouchers and financial aid procedures," he explained. "I wish more people would know about this program because the only other program I know about is our sister one at City College. I think that Rebound is a social attitude monument that lets people see that people who have been recently incarcerated can have positive goals too."

Project Rebound cooperate with other organizations and resources around the Bay Area to get the members involved in some community service. The organization works with youth outreach programs and places where the members can get their hands dirty and plant trees.

"We get most of our funds from ASI," Lindsay explains. "We also plan fundraisers and plan events like this semester's spread-off competition."

Last semester, Project Rebound held a talent show and all the proceeds went to the program. The "spread-off", which takes place on Friday, is a cook-off to see who can make the best spread.

"Spread is a meal that they eat in prison and is top ramen soup with a mix of anything you'd like in it," Lindsay said. "I'm talking chips, Vienna sausages, tuna...just the works. We're going to see who makes the best spread, then enjoy some other food and have music and stuff to raise money for the program."

There are currently three members on staff, including Lindsay, and the rest of the people that help out with Project Rebound are volunteers and interns.

"This program has changed my life a great deal," former employee Manuel La Fontaine said. "I am now a part of a project that is going to build housing for all people with low income and just coming out of prison."

La Fontaine worked for Project Rebound for two years and said it opened him up to so many opportunities and helped him learn about the justice system and ways in which he could help out the formerly incarcerated.

The open house this semester allowed people to see what this organization is all about.

"The open house is for people to come in ask questions and refer others to our services," Lindsay said. "We get a lot of inquiries through the open house and are able to spread the word about what we're all about."

Project Rebound is working hard to get more funds and help people get on their feet and start a new life.

"My brother was recently put in jail and will be locked up for two years," Allie Lopez, 22, said. "I read a flyer about the program and think it is a great chance for my brother to do his thing again. He's hella smart and has mad poetry skills so it's cool that SF State gives people a chance to do his school thing again."