May 2023 Newsletter
“If you build it, they will come.” This quote from "Field of Dreams" motivated someone with a vision to take their idea and turn it into something incredible. It's not often that a coach gets the opportunity to meet the starting players from the very first game their team ever played, but this past weekend, I had the privilege of doing just that at Princeton Reunions. The Petey Greene Program honored the Princeton Class of 1958 and recognized several of our founders for their vision over 15 years ago. At that time, Charlie Puttkammer considered the impact of using college students to provide tutoring services to people behind the walls of our jails and prisons to help them achieve their educational goals before their release. No one at that dinner table could have anticipated that 15 years later, over 16,000 students would have been tutored and more than 7,000 tutors would have been placed across 120 tutoring sites.
The founders of the Petey Green Program built a playing field that has not only withstood the test of time, but continues to expand and touch those impacted by our justice systems through education, empathy, and compassion. I salute those all-stars who had the vision to build the field we call the Petey Greene Program and look forward to spreading this game across the country.
Jeffrey Abramowitz, CEO, The Petey Greene Program
Our 2022 Annual Report is Now Available!
We are pleased to share that our 2022 Annual Report is now available! Read now to learn more about the impact we had, events we held, and how our programs have grown in the last year. Check it out now!
Join the Petey Greene Program Team!
Do you want to advance educational justice every day and increase your involvement with the PGP? We are hiring to fill positions in Philadelphia and New York City with candidates who are interested in supporting the educational journeys of currently and formerly incarcerated people! We are looking for a Regional Manager in Philadelphia, a Volunteer Coordinator in Philadelphia and two Volunteer Coordinators in New York City. Please apply today or share these opportunities with someone who might be interested.
Celebrating the Class of 1958 at Princeton Reunions
Last Friday, we joined with current and former PGP students, volunteers and our local community to honor the Princeton University Class of 1958 at Princeton Reunions. The Petey Greene Program was launched fifteen years ago when the Princeton University Great Class of 1958 chose it as their class project at their 50th reunion. From that day to this, members of this extraordinary class have provided the necessary financial and advisory support that has made the PGP our nation's leading provider of tutoring services and beyond for currently and formerly incarcerated people. Charlie and Cordie Puttkammer, the financial founders; Jim Farrin, the Founding Executive Director; trustees Irwin Silverberg, Richard Scribner, and George McGlaughlin, and major donors Bob and Lynn Johnston, Carol Kuhlthau, and Jerry and Judy Porter were honored at a celebratory breakfast. The celebration continued into the afternoon with an engaging conversation between trustee Yusuf Dahl and Princeton University professor Udi Ofer, moderated by Jeff Abramowitz about the causes and solutions of over-incarceration. The speakers addressed a packed house, sharing relevant experiences and challenging questions. The PGP team is sincerely grateful for what this generous, visionary group of individuals has enabled.
Board Member Yusuf Dahl Featured on Vice Media
Our Board Member, Yusuf Dahl, is featured in an episode of Vice on ShowTime looking at criminal record-related housing restrictions. He speaks on his experience of facing barriers to obtaining housing because of his justice involvement but now works to undo this discriminatory practice. "I'll know we've been successful when someone who has paid their debt to society can live where they want, not where they’re allowed.” Check out the full episode, "Backgrounded" on ShowTime!
Volunteer Spotlight: Ramiro, Tutor at Swarthmore College
Ramiro Hernandez recently graduated from Swarthmore College, where he was involved with the Petey Greene Program on campus since his first year. His involvement with the PGP shaped his undergraduate experience: “I first got involved when they were specifically looking for ESL tutors (English as a Second Language) because I had that experience in my own background. But moving into the pandemic, I could really see how incarcerated people were some of the most vulnerable and that, along with an Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies course that looked at the carceral state, grounded me in the decision to pursue more of this.” “It impacted me in the sense that I began to see really the power of education as a way towards freedom. I really saw how much they appreciated the connection and attention that us tutors provided. And at the graduation ceremony I attended at SCI-Chester, I saw some of my own students feel really proud of themselves and feel really happy.” Ramiro is going on to pursue a Master’s of Education at Harvard University in the fall and hopes to continue exploring education as a means of liberation. Congratulations, Ramiro, on your graduation and we look forward to cheering you on!
Staff Spotlight: Welcome to the Team, Ayesha!
Ayesha Abdul is joining the PGP team as a Summer Intern in New York City! Ayesha is a senior majoring in Childhood Education with a concentration in social studies at the College of the City of New York. She grew up in Harlem and comes from a Black and first generation Filipino family of 6. Ayesha has worked with children ranging from infancy to 10 years old in the capacities of babysitter, daycare manager, and summer camp counselor. Her love for children and education guides her aspiration to become a teacher in the city that raised her. She was also moved to study at a public university in New York City as the diverse environment would help inform her ability to create a welcoming and intersectional classroom. She hopes to be principal of her own school one day. In her free time, she plays guitar and enjoys painting.
Photo of the Month!
Earlier this month, most of our Petey Greene Program staff came together to connect, brainstorm new ideas, and discuss our dreams and goals for our organization’s future. We are excited to continue supporting the academic goals of currently and formerly incarcerated learners with this all-star team!
PGP 2023 staff retreat at the iconic Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, NJ
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.