February 2024 Newsletter
It seems odd to have only one month to celebrate Black history when it’s such an integral part of American history. As Black History Month comes to a close, I hope all of our colleagues and friends will continue to take time to learn more about the historical and present-day challenges facing men and women of color across all parts of the world, and especially here in the United States. By learning about these lived experiences, we can all be more attuned to the wounds caused by inequality, bigotry, prejudice and injustice.
Throughout this past month, I have picked up a book, watched a movie directed by a person of color, attended a lecture, and engaged in community events that have helped me understand the issues a little bit better. And I vow to not limit this to only February and encourage you to join me! You can explore lists of books, resources, and films here and here.
This journey of educating others starts with educating ourselves. The Petey Greene Program is committed to showing up for all of our students and volunteers which requires us to understand their background and experiences. History can give us perspective, but our daily actions can change the future.
Best,
Jeffrey Abramowitz, CEO of the Petey Greene Program
Sign Up for Our 3rd Annual 5K Run/Walk for Education Justice!
We couldn’t wait to hold our 3rd Annual 5K Run/Walk for Education Justice so we moved it to the Spring! We hope you will join us in Boston, Princeton, at our new location in Philadelphia, or virtually from wherever you are on April 13th at 1PM EST for a fun-filled community day. We can’t wait to see you all there! You will also be invited to dedicate your 5K to a friend, family member, or student who you tutor that is incarcerated. You will be given a bib with space to write the name of your running buddy and we will elevate their stories at each race location.
Are you or your company interested in sponsoring a meaningful event committed to promoting education justice? Take a look at our sponsorship offerings and please get in touch with our Development Manager, Anna Kraft, if you think it would be a good fit. Your sponsorship directly supports the academic goals of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people through high-quality volunteer tutoring.
Register NOW for Our March Justice Education Series on 3/21!
In connection with our upcoming 3rd Annual 5K Run/Walk for Educational Justice, we are hosting a Justice Education Series webinar on nutrition and health inside correctional spaces. We hope you will join us for what will be an interesting conversation on what food access can look like inside! REGISTER NOW!
Are You Interested in Being a College Bridge Volunteer Instructor?
We are seeking volunteer instructors for our summer and fall 2024 College Bridge math and writing courses in Washington, DC, New York, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. These courses are offered as part of our College Bridge Program and help incarcerated learners develop the critical thinking, writing, reading, and math skills that are necessary to pursue employment and post-secondary education, while fostering a sense of educational self-efficacy and self-confidence that will support them in these pursuits. To apply, please complete our online application form. For more information, please contact Chiara Benetollo, Executive Director of the Center for Educational Justice and Equity (cbenetollo@peteygreene.org).
Meet Colleen Daily, our College Bridge Coordinator!
In this role, she supports volunteers and students at SCI Phoenix as they work to achieve their personal goals and the program’s fundamental mission. Since the abolishment of carceral systems will not happen quickly, Colleen’s goal in life is to find ways to decrease the damaging experience of being housed inside of carceral spaces. Through education, Colleen has found that students find an escape and a sense of freedom not found otherwise in the confines of prison. Colleen is
currently working toward her master’s in social work from Bryn Mawr College and expects to graduate in May of 2024. She has focused her time in her degree program on policy and advocacy, as well as some clinical experience as a therapist in Philadelphia schools. Colleen’s first experience inside of a prison was as a Teaching Assistant with Inside Out which solidified her thoughts on the necessity of providing services inside of carceral systems. Prior to joining the PGP, Colleen has worked in many different career fields and has spent several years in the military and several years as a Business Intelligence analyst providing executive level reporting and consulting. In her free time, she enjoys Olympic weightlifting and reading way too many books.
We’re thrilled to welcome Kaya Ceci as our new Philadelphia Regional Manager! Kaya joins the Petey Greene Program with over a decade of experience supporting the educational and vocational goals of systems-impacted youth and adults. Most recently, she built the capacity of a national network of community-based organizations to provide holistic reentry support to formerly incarcerated young adults across the country. Her early experiences surviving poverty and the traumas therein led Kaya down a path of healing that catalyzed
the Transformational Justice work she aims to continue at PGP. Her journey thus far has equipped her with subject matter expertise ranging from evidence-based clinical interventions to best practices in programmatic development, implementation, and evaluation in the workforce development space. She is driven by the vital need to build restorative alternatives to incarceration rooted in community care and cannot wait to devote her passions toward that end alongside the Petey Greene family.
Photo of the Month!
Our incredible student organization at Howard University hosted a fundraiser last week for the Petey Greene Program! Thank you to our volunteers for their dedication and for allowing their fellow classmates to pie them in the face to raise $160 for the PGP 😂 Thank you, all!
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.