The University of New Haven Prison Education Program and the Yale Prison Education Initiative are collaborating to create innovative educational opportunities for incarcerated students. The Chargers and local community recently came together to support this program and reflect on how it is making a significant difference in the lives of students.
May 2, 2024
Renee Chmiel, Marketing and Communications Department
For Alpha Jalloh ’23 AA, the pandemic has been a trying and even tumultuous time. As an incarcerated individual, tensions inside prisons have been high during the pandemic. But Jarreau found solace and a sense of community through his education.
Jareau remembers attending a study group. Despite what he described as “the chaos unfolding” around them, he and his classmates gathered in the recreation room to study textbooks and share insights with each other. This was a meaningful opportunity for students to discover their passion for learning and recognize the power of education while incarcerated.
Jarreau and his classmates had the opportunity to earn associate degrees as part of the University of New Haven Prison Education Program and the Yale Prison Education Initiative. He was one of the program's first graduates and one of seven graduates to receive their degrees during a ceremony at the McDougal-Walker Correctional Facility in Suffield, Conn., last June. He recently shared his story and the impact of his education as part of his program's gala and fundraiser.
“The bond of friendship and camaraderie we forged was palpable and a beacon of light in the darkness all around us,” Jarreau recalled. “Our sense of community extended beyond the walls of our classrooms. It permeated every aspect of our daily lives, whether it was sharing books, helping each other with assignments, or simply offering words of encouragement. Even when we were at work, we were united by a common commitment to learning and growing.”
“Dignity, Respect, and Humanity”
The university, in collaboration with the Yale Prison Education Initiative, received a $1.5 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in 2021 to fund the program, which continues to create transformative opportunities for students. ing. In addition to offering the program at McDougal, the program has expanded to a federal correctional facility, a women's prison, in Danbury, Connecticut. It is the only in-prison college program for women in federal prisons in the United States, and the first degrees will be awarded this year.
Dr. Michael Rossi, associate dean for faculty and curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Zelda Rowland, founding director of the Yale Prison Education Initiative and the College's Prison Education Program, are collaborating to implement safe education. did. Grant funding. Dr. Rowland said there is a “need and desire” for these programs.
“A core tenet of our program is to extend to students in prison the access to the excellent education that students receive on campus,” Dr. Rowland said. “It’s about treating students with the same dignity, respect, humanity and the same potential as students on campus.”
“This program also aims to expand access.”
The recent celebration was a fun and meaningful way to highlight the importance of the program and the impact it is already having on students. The event raises funds to support the program, which continues to grow and provide incarcerated students with the opportunity to earn a degree.
An additional 10 students will earn associate degrees this year. Dr. Rowland is excited to also be awarded his two undergraduate degrees, the first in interdisciplinary research. This is Connecticut's first Bachelor of Arts degree, made possible by the restoration of access to the Second His Chance Grant. (Restoring access to Pell Grants for incarcerated students was piloted under the Obama administration's Department of Education.)
“This program also aims to expand access to the range of supports that students receive on campus,” adds Dr. Rowland. “This includes the soft skills, social networks, professional development and mentoring opportunities students receive on campus.”
“I felt a sense of independence.”
The program brings together university faculty, including history professor Dr. Bradley Woodworth and English professor Dr. Mary Isbell, to teach courses. The event highlighted not only their experiences but also the impact they had on the lives of students.
The celebration also featured state leaders and included members of the local community. As part of the event, William Carbone MPA, distinguished lecturer in criminal justice and executive director of the justice program and the university's Tow Institute for Youth Justice, spoke to state Rep. Toni Walker on social justice and state initiatives. Awarded the Advocacy Award. youth justice system;
For Jalloh, a recent graduate, the program, faculty and new educational opportunities are already making a difference. He said education gave him hope and a sense of true empowerment.
“In those lonely moments of studying, I found a sense of agency. It reminded me that despite my circumstances, I still have the power to shape my own destiny,” he says. explained. “Education has become more than just a means of acquiring knowledge, it has become a catalyst for personal growth, self-discovery, and ultimately transformation.”