February 2023 Newsletter
Several years ago, I attended a workshop where the facilitator asked us to describe our leadership style in three words. Some chose words like, "Just Do It," and others added sayings like "Make Things Happen" or "Never Look Back." After some thought and reflection, I selected "Hit the Cutoff." These words may sound familiar to baseball fans and with spring training upon us, I found them relevant. The cutoff is the person who relays the baseball from an outfielder to the catcher with efficiency and speed that would allow the catcher to tag out and advancing runner at home plate. The ultimate teamwork.
Over the past two months I have come to understand and witness the amazing team of players at the Petey Greene Program. Our organization’s success is centered on the ability of our staff to work together to help our students and tutors succeed. It is not just one play, but a constant in our organization that we “hit the cutoff” and make great things happen. As your coach, I am guided by a Board of Directors and I have had the privilege of working with Yusuf Dahl, who has recently moved on from his position as Board President, and am excited to welcome Alexander (Alec) Decker, as our new Board President. The Petey Greene Board of Directors also welcomes Cason Crane, Sixto Sime and David Harding and we are thrilled to have them as part of our Petey Greene team. In this off season, our team also acquired Lynwood Patrick as our new Director of Finance, and Sarah Hirshorn as Communications Manager. The Petey Greene Program, like the game of baseball has no letter “I” in it, and as we all work together on this team we can truly make great things happen.
Jeffrey Abramowitz
CEO, The Petey Greene Program
ICYMI: Our February Justice Education Series Webinar
Thank you to our panelists and all who attended our February Justice Education Series Webinar, “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration.” It was an insightful and important conversation. If you missed any part of the webinar or want to share it with your networks, the recording is now available.
Join us on March 30 for a Justice Education Series webinar
Join us on Thursday, March 30 at 6 PM EST for the second webinar of our Spring 2023 Justice Education Series, "A Conversation with Dr. Treva Lindsey, author of America, Goddam: Violence, Black Women and the Struggle for Justice." Women and girls are often left out of conversations about educational justice for currently and formerly incarcerated people, even when incarceration rates for women have increased sevenfold since the early 1980s. We will grapple with the history of violence and criminalization of Black women and girls while also learning of their strivings for justice.
Blog: Reframing the "Value" of Education in Carceral Spaces
Our New York Regional Manager and Manager of Program Evaluation, Nicole Delgadillo writes on why it is important to reframe the “value” of education in carceral spaces. While education is often rightfully touted for its benefits in reducing recidivism, Nicole reminds us that education is equally powerful for community building and self-empowerment. “The value of education lies in the often intangible, frequently immeasurable, but immediately perceivable gains in leadership, interpersonal, and critical thinking skills that empower learners to take charge of their own liberation journeys. Education in its own right is the value-add.”
Listen now: New podcast episode featuring Jeff Abramowitz
Our very own CEO, Jeffrey Abramowitz, joined “Get a G.R.I.P. with Coach Elix” for a conversation on “Choices and Consequences: The World of Second Chances.” Take a listen as Jeff shares his personal story, his passion for educating and improving lives, and how he brings both of those backgrounds to his role at the Petey Greene Program.
Student Spotlight: Jeffrey, Project Impact/CCA NextGen Student
Jeffrey is one of our Project Impact/ Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) NextGen students in New York. With the assistance of the PGP and dedicated tutors, he has re-enrolled into the Borough of Manhattan Community College to continue his education!
Volunteer Spotlight: Hassana, PGP Tutor at Howard University
Hassana Arbubakrr is a student at Howard University and has been a volunteer with the Petey Greene Program for three semesters. She initially got involved with the PGP because she was looking to do something outside of the classroom that related to her major in Criminology. Hassana echoes the stated goals of the HBCU Forward Initiative as she shares about her experience working with youth who come from a similar background to hers: “There is definitely a difference in response from the students to the tutors who look like them or have had experiences like theirs. I’m from a similar background to a lot of them - I just feel like one of the lucky ones that got out of that environment and had access to the great education I am getting now. I see a lot of similarities in the students I work with but they didn’t have the resources or opportunities to be something great. But because of my identity, I feel like they are able to put some of their guards down. They feel like we can relate to each other and have a really honest exchange of ideas.” Since getting involved with the PGP, Hassana has encouraged other friends and classmates of hers to get involved with tutoring as well. “I tell them that they have to go in with an open mind. To be as open to teaching the student something as you are to learning something new from them in return.”
Staff Spotlight: Taliya Allen, Regional Manager, Pittsburgh
Taliya Allen is the Regional Manager in Pittsburgh, the newest region where PGP is making an impact. She is an educator and an activist and began her career with Teach for America. She relocated to Pittsburgh to continue her work with youth in communities of color. As our programs in Pittsburgh are beginning to get off the ground, Taliya continues to hear the needs of incarcerated learners and volunteers to make sure that the PGP’s offerings are as aligned as possible with our students’ academic goals. Recently, a volunteer at SCI Greene helped a student pass their HVAC certification exam - even though he was initially there to support with GED coursework. Now, Taliya is opening conversations with educational staff and administration at SCI Greene to see how PGP tutors can continue to be plugged into tutoring for more practical and professional coursework. “This is an actual need area and we can help in that capacity. There are a couple other students who are getting ready to sit for their certification exams and our tutors can help them prepare for those,” Taliya shares. “There also are sometimes days where students don’t have a direct need with their GED coursework, but expanding in this way means we can still engage with them, practice and apply practical knowledge and continue supporting their endeavors.”
Monthly PGP Photo Contest!
Louise and Sophia are two superstar PGP volunteers who are part of the leadership team of the Tufts University organization. They recently tabled at their school’s club fair to encourage other students to join them as PGP volunteers!
We want to see what is happening around the PGP community! Submit any photos related to your involvement with the PGP todonate@peteygreene.orgfor a chance to be featured in next month's newsletter and to win a $25 gift card!
Thanks to the generous support of donors like you, we continue to support the educational journeys of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people by providing the high-quality, individualized tutoring and academic support that every learner needs to achieve their educational goals. Please donate today.