Celebrating Growth at the Petey Greene Program
Greetings from the Petey Greene Program! This fall we welcomed over 500 new and returning students and more than 300 volunteers to our programs. As we celebrate growth across our regions and programs, we’re thrilled to share that since our founding in 2008, we’ve served nearly 20,000 students across more than 130 tutoring sites, including correctional facilities and reentry programs; placed more than 8,500 volunteers; and recruited from more than 40 partner universities in seven states and the District of Columbia.
It’s the time of year for taking stock. This year our programs delivered personalized education to students studying for the GED, preparing for college, and even building stronger ties to their families. We also held trainings and webinars focused on increasing awareness of the injustices in the carceral system for public audiences across the nation.
Although the members of our community come from every walk of life, we all share in common a deep commitment to the life-changing power of education. Our work centers around human connection; one person offering a hand and the other accepting.
As I look ahead, it is with pride in our work and gratitude in my heart that I step forward into my third year as Chief Executive Officer of the Petey Greene Program. I want to share with you a few developments and updates about our continuing work ahead:
Creating pathways to college: The College Bridge Program prepares incarcerated students to enroll and succeed in college. Although as many as 25% of incarcerated students with a GED or high school diploma struggle with math and literacy skills that prevent them from matriculating and succeeding in college, early evidence suggests that our College Bridge Program significantly increases these students’ academic skills as well as sense of self-confidence. In a recent pilot, 80% of College Bridge alumni were admitted into a college-in-prison program after just one semester in our College Bridge classes. The College Bridge Program has been offered to 300+ students, and we have plans to increase access for students while recruiting new educational partners in 2025.
Overcoming barriers to individualized education for every student: Nearly 2 in every 5 people who are incarcerated have at least one disability, yet these learners are often overlooked and underserved due to systemic barriers. We have offered trainings on the experiences of disability in prisons and jails for volunteers and the general public. In 2025, we will continue to address systemic barriers to education by growing our offerings in Spanish, and preparing to launch services to support digital literacy and career credentialing for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students.
Expanding access and impact on a national scale: The Petey Greene Program launched a 2024-28 Strategic Plan, which will carry the PGP into its next stage of growth by our 20th Anniversary in 2028. The newly launched Puttkammer Center for Educational Justice and Equity will accelerate our national growth by uplifting evidence-based research and data to inform policy dialogues and promote best practices in the field of carceral and reentry education.
Always free to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students! Thanks to the generous support of our donors and passion of our volunteers, our programs are available at no cost to students.
What makes the Petey Greene Program truly special and unique are our people: our students, our volunteers, and our supporters. I encourage you to remain an engaged member of our community!
Next year, we look forward to sharing many opportunities for you to meet our team, students, and volunteers, including at our regional events such as our 4th Annual 5K Run/Walk this Spring, national events like Going Greene 2025, and virtual events including our Justice Education Series.
Please help us grow our impact by volunteering your time, attending an event, or making a gift. I look forward to continuing to share updates about our accomplishments throughout the new year.
Warm regards,
Jeffrey Abramowitz, CEO of the Petey Greene Program