Our writing campaign.

January continues to be Higher Education month, and the folks over at Education from the Inside Out are doing an excellent job promoting higher learning for all (including the incarcerated) through their campaign of everyday people sharing why education has been so important to them. Soon, we here at PGRI will be offering up our own voices to this common goal, in the form of letters petitioning our state representatives for Pell Grant reinstatement.

I have read the letters that inmates of ToCI have written for our cause, and they are full of passion. Sometimes they desperately call out for help; occasionally, they are even angry--but in all cases, the emotion that leaps off the page is completely understandable. The missives speak of lost opportunities for self-improvement, the reduction of chances for success post-release, and loss of hope for balancing one's odds in life, when the opportunity for education is stripped away. These men feel they will be fighting even more of an uphill battle post-release, than they would if they were educated.

Several of the inmates I work with at ToCI have expressed how disappointing it was when Owens Community College ceased their Advanced Job Training program at the institution, which gave many of them hope for future employment. At this point, their only options for intellectual advancement or job skills beyond acquiring a GED is to learn computer repair. We must offer our incarcerated more opportunities than this!

As soon as I can get clearance to post some of these letters, I will. I expect you will be as moved by them as I have been.

And to piggy-back on EIO's efforts, think about how has education been important and integral to your life. Shouldn't these reasons apply to America's incarcerated, as well? After all, education should be a human right, not a privilege.

Why "pellgrantsforfelons"?

One of the questions I've gotten several times since our group's agreement to use the blog address pellgrantsforfelons is why we chose a phrase that's so potentially off-putting. I mean, it's hard enough convincing people that prisoners are worthy of recognition as worthwhile human beings, let alone getting them to believe they're deserving of grants, right? Well, it is because of that very mindset that I suggested such an address in the first place: it's attention-grabbing and instantly makes people curious, no matter where they stand on prisoners' rights. It urges people to ask, "What is this organization all about?" "Should I, as a law-abiding taxpayer, be concerned?" "Are they suggesting we just give money to convicted felons?"

Yes, yes we do, when it comes to education.

All people deserve the opportunity to be educated; to intellectually flourish. And as our extended mission statement says, we believe this also applies to those who are incarcerated. But if you're not yet convinced by our beliefs, take a look at a few key points from a study by the RAND Corporation, which determined that educational opportunities for those behind bars is a useful tool against recidivism:

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education: A Meta-Analysis of Programs That Provide Education to Incarcerated Adults

For those who have no issue with inmates having opportunities for education but feel they should pay for it "just like everyone else": everyone else, if not independently wealthy, applies for grants and takes out loans to attend school, as it's expensive. Since those who are incarcerated do not make enough money to pay for higher education and are ineligible for loans, there are no opportunities for them to fund their desire for higher learning. As well, most who are serving time do not have adequate financial support from family to pay the exorbitant costs of even the scant correspondence course opportunities that are available.

Thus, we feel it's time to roll back the devastating changes made in the 1990s to keep those behind bars from getting a proper education and instead, help prepare them for successful re-entry at the end of their sentences. After all, when still in place, Pell Grant funding for the incarcerated comprised less than 1% of total funding in the nation.

I think even in our crappy economy, we can afford that.

First post! Basic mission statement.

Pell Grant Reinstatement Initiative is a combined, grassroots effort of incarcerated men at Toledo Correctional and local prison reform activists who believe access to federal funds for college should be reinstated for prisoners.

Education has been proven to reduce recidivism, increase opportunities for employment and is the cornerstone of human flourishing. It is time we recognize that America's incarcerated men and women are part of our society, and while they are serving time, it is in the best interest for all of us to support improvement of their minds and lives through opportunities for higher education.

Look for many, many things to come, including valuable and informative links, a website, and passionate letters advocating reinstatement from the prisoners, themselves.