Congratulations, graduates

I'm a long time volunteer in a homeless shelter, and many of our guests have cycled in and out of jail and/or prison. Sometimes, when we haven't seen someone in a while, we'll find out that they're in jail. One of my favorites spent Christmas in jail for assault and battery (brawling). 

From my many brief conversations with him, I know that he's highly intelligent, quick witted, and a hard luck "kid" who grew up in a colossally dysfunctional environment and who, familial dysfunction aside, had substantial health problems (the result of an accident in his teenage years) that has left him with major mental health and substance abuse issues. 

This guy, who turns 50 this year, has been in and out of jail (short term, not super violent crimes) for years. He's pretty much a favorite of most of the staff at St. Francis House, but he never seems to be able to make a step in the right direction and take part in any of the excellent programs we offer for those ready to take that first step back to rebuilding their lives.  

Other of our guests show up direct from prison. As a volunteer, I don't have access to any information about the guests other than name and date of birth, so I mostly know they came out of prison because they've told me (or - hey, I'm nosy - I googled their name).

Most of my volunteer work is in the Resource Center, where we sign folks up for showers and computer use, hand out socks and toothbrushes and toothpaste, give out tickets for appointments for clothing, do faxing and copying, and handle a bunch of other small things. The Resource Center is a hangout spot, and our hangout room is usually crowded with folks (mostly men, largely Black and Hispanic men, with a recent influx of young Haitians) who often sit there for hours watching TV.

When I look around the room, I often think of what a waste it is to have so many people whose lives have gone off a track they haven't been able to get back on. 

So I was delighted to read about a program that Tufts University runs at the state prison in Concord that lets inmates achieve their bachelor's degree while behind bars. Recently, 10 inmates graduated, the first class that took part in the Tufts University Prison Initiative. There are two other cohorts of 18 inmates each taking part in this program. (Inmates who are released before they graduate can take courses on the Tufts campus. There's also an ongoing support program for students and graduates who are back in the world. Even with a Tufts degree in hand, this is a difficult transition.)

The application process is rigorous. It included diagnostic exams in literary analysis and math, a letter of intention, and interviews with faculty. But it is open to all prospective students who have completed a high school education or equivalent, regardless of sentence length.

While applicants must meet a high bar to get in, program founder and executive director Hilary Binda said class discussions make room for students to discuss both the personal challenges and racial or socio-economic barriers they faced growing up, as well as how education can serve as a powerful tool for populations historically over-represented in the justice system. Of the 10 graduates at Tuesday’s ceremony, five were Black, three were Latino (including two Afro-Latino students), and one was Cambodian.

To complete their degree in civic studies, students had to take classes ranging from The Bible as Literature to gender studies, memoir writing, and biology and genetics courses. Classes, according to Binda, are taught in a circle, rather than with desks arranged in rows, to create a feeling of openness among students and facilitate group discussion. (Source: Boston Globe)

Not surprisingly, some of those who participate in the Tufts program are finding work in social services. Nothing like lived experience to help others in need of a lift!

Tufts isn't the only local school with a prison education program. Boston University also runs one. Over the past five years, they've awarded bachelor's degrees to well over 300 folks.  

I love that these programs exist. Not everyone will take advantage of them, of course. Not everyone will succeed everytime. But when I think of the guys hanging out in the Resource Center, I wish there had been opportunities like this for them.

Congratulations, graduates! Congratulations, Tufts!