New York capital region’s public media network WMHT recently featured the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) in its new video series, Work in Progress, which shares stories of people navigating a rapidly changing economy and how they respond to the evolving needs and conditions of work. This episode, “How College in Prison is Changing Lives,” explores the transformative power of education in prison programs. BPI Upstate Reentry Coordinator Shawn Young ’19, Director of Special Projects at the Center for Community Alternatives in Brooklyn Tammar Cancer ’17, BPI Director of Reentry Jed B. Tucker, and B ..read more

The program, part of A New Way of Life’s SAFE Housing Network, will bring needed resources to formerly incarcerated women in Westchester, NY.   I founded The Lilac House project in April of 2022. The organization will address the lack of transitional housing for formerly incarcerated women in Westchester County by giving residents access to housing in a safe and supportive community and connecting them with area resources. As someone who is formerly incarcerated, I know all too well the difficulties women face when reentering the community. I also know how a single opportunity can be the ..read more

The sixth cohort of the Public Health Fellowship was the largest thus far. During the sixth annual Public Health Symposium, the Fellows engaged in panel discussions about their projects, each of which spans a diverse array of scholarly, programmatic, and policy-based examples of work in the area of public health. Fellows were joined in panel discussions moderated by Dr. Jocelyn Apicello, BPI’s Public Health/Urban Farming & Sustainability Faculty & Academic Advisor, and Dr. Bob Fullilove, Senior Advisor to BPI’s Public Health Program. The BPI Public Health Fellowship is dedicated to ad ..read more

For formerly incarcerated individuals returning to their communities, “clean, safe, and stable” housing is crucial, says Shawn Young ’19, upstate reentry resident for the Bard Prison Initiative. Speaking to his experience as a Bard alumnus through the Bard Prison Initiative, Young told the Good Work Hour on Radio Kingston that a housing-first reentry model can make the difference for people attempting to reestablish themselves in the communities they lived in before their incarceration. “When our folks, when our alumni/ae, when our students come back to their community, they have places that t ..read more

BPI’s fellowships provide an opportunity for alumni and other formerly incarcerated people to deepen their expertise in areas of career advancement. These 10-month-long programs connect formerly incarcerated professionals to careers where their unique combination of education and lived experience makes them vital members of the workforce. Fellows participate in monthly cohort-wide learning and networking events alongside individualized instruction and advising in the form of one-on-one engagement with experts in the field. This past Fall, BPI launched its Education Fellowship to support alums ..read more

  Last Friday was the introduction of BPI reentry to Albany and the Greater Capital Region. It was also an opportunity for me to share with many of you the vision of Freedom Is A Must. Thank you to those who were able to attend and be a part of the evening.  It was a great night with good music, amazing food, and powerful speakers. DJ Air Alert set the mood with positive vibes. Juice Factory VII provided juices, wraps, salads, and acai bowls for the evening. Then, the evening was topped off by words of wisdom, purpose, and inspiration from a diverse group of folks.   Dr ..read more

The fifth annual BPI Public Health Fellowship Symposium featured 2021 Public Health Fellows delivering video presentations (below) of their individual projects, each of which spans a diverse array of scholarly, programmatic, and policy-based examples of work in the area of public health, followed by a group conversation (above). The BPI Public Health Fellowship is a 10-month long program that enhances the influence and expertise of formerly incarcerated public health professionals and prepares them for leadership positions within the field. Leveraging a decade of work in developing a robust ..read more

The BPI Transitional Workshop is a 6-week, compensated program operating in New York City (with remote capability during COVID). It offers support, training, and guidance as you navigate the challenges of a successful transition home and explore new opportunities in continuing your education and finding meaningful employment. Enrollment is limited to 15 participants per Workshop cohort and it carries a stipend of $2,550 for the full 6-week program. The next  Transitional Workshop runs January 11 – February 19, 2021 Topics will include: technology housing self-care and health insurance ..read more

    Health and Safety Resources   Finding Work (regularly updated and password protected)   Federal Stimulus Check     COVID-19 Rapid Response Tax Preparation    Stimulus Funding and Unemployment   Voting rights   Zoom and Google Hangout Tutorials     Food Access in NYC    Kids and Families The post Alumni Resources appeared first on Bard Prison Initiative ..read more

 A look into the variety of career and professional journeys of BPI alumni upon their returning home to the Greater New York City Area. Learn more about BPI’s Reentry and Alumni Affairs work. The post Bard Prison Initiative Reentry and Alumni Affairs Video appeared first on Bard Prison Initiative ..read more