I’m currently working for The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) in Hempstead as a Case Manager in the CTC Department Center for Transformative Change.
I’m happy to say that I’ve found a team of like-minded people who want to create real change and grow together, all while treating people with dignity and respect. That’s something I adopted from my time in College Way, and I carry it with me every day.
What I want to say is that College Way deserves to be bigger nationwide, with more visibility and support. I’ve worked for many organizations, but the approach College Way uses with students who are incarcerated stands out. They are met with empathy and respect, and because of that, students engage and feel motivated, even if just for that one class. Even if they return to their cells and face the realities of incarceration, during our time together they show up, participate, and find relief. For me, it brought joy to know that our classes could ease stress and offer a break from the weight of their environment.
“I also want to highlight that if we invested in programs like College Way, retention rates could dramatically improve. What’s the harm in trying? We already spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to detain but not nearly enough to support, change, and transform. College Way proves that transformation is possible when we invest in people.”