Prison Education Program in the News
- Brandon Barrow, Director of Marketing & Communications for Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), generously sponsored a screening of Sing Sing inside SCI Chester. Dr. Valerie Flower, Chair of the Theater Program at Eastern University and the Real Rap program at SCI Chester worked together to host this special event. Sing Sing is based on a true story and depicts the transformative power of theater in a carceral space.
- "Building Bridges: An Evening of Art and Community" (February 2nd, 2024) was a packed house at Swarthmore College and lived up to its name. Thanks to all who attended. Special thanks to David Buckley, PEP's 2023-2024 artist-in-residence, for orchestrating the event, the family members who supported, and the artists (both inside and out) who made the evening memorable. See the event recap and photos.
- Rep. Carol Kazeem and Sen. John Kane visit SCI-Chester to attend final presentations in Julie Mogan’s and David King’s course “Public Speaking.” PEP students moved the crowd and underscored the value of higher education in prison.
- Homeboy Sandman visits SCI-Chester and represents PEP at a concert in Vancouver, CA.
- Eastern's PEP program and leaders were recently featured in this article by U.S. News & World Report.
Rationale
- MISSION: In the outworking of Eastern’s tenants of faith, reason, and justice, this educational program will have a transformative impact on individuals and communities. It provides education to incarcerated persons and those returning from incarceration.
- MARKET: Many incarcerated persons recognize the transformative nature of education and are hungry to learn and earn credentials that will help them grow, and improve their success in reentry.
- MANDATE: In 2016 Eastern University signed the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge, a commitment to reducing barriers to higher education for individuals with criminal records.
Why Give?
- 95% of incarcerated people are coming home.
- Recidivism goes down over 43% among those who receive postsecondary education.
- Lives of inside students are transformed for the better, and there is a positive effect on the entire prison environment.
- Released persons are 13% more likely to obtain employment.
- By 2020, 65% of all jobs will require postsecondary education and training beyond high school.
- People of faith and conscience are called to reach out in redemptive ways to those in prison.
Give to the Prison Education Program
“Education in prison allowed me to regain my humanity and gave me hope for my future. It helped change my trajectory. ”
Program Goals
Workshops and Seminars
Supporting reentry for incarcerated persons (i.e. Life Skills Workshops, Soft & Hard Skills).
Inside-Out Classes
Traditional students and inside students take courses together at a correctional facility.
Degree Education
Men at SCI Chester would have the opportunity to earn an Associate of Arts degree.
“It has truly been an honor and a pleasure teaching this semester. I was hoping it would be a transformative experience for the students and I trust it has been. However, I didn't know how much it would be a transformative experience for me! Working with the students has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had teaching.”
