Education and Community
How College in Prison is Changing Lives
Special | 2m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Discover the transformative power of education in prison.
College can be a transformative experience, but for incarcerated individuals, it can be life-changing. Bard Prison Initiative is unlocking the potential of incarcerated individuals by providing a college education and exposing them to a variety of career paths. Witness the positive impact of this program and how it's changing lives in this eye-opening video.
Education and Community is a local public television program presented by WMHT
Support provided by the New York State Education Department and the Workforce Development Institute.
Education and Community
How College in Prison is Changing Lives
Special | 2m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
College can be a transformative experience, but for incarcerated individuals, it can be life-changing. Bard Prison Initiative is unlocking the potential of incarcerated individuals by providing a college education and exposing them to a variety of career paths. Witness the positive impact of this program and how it's changing lives in this eye-opening video.
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- [Shawn Young] The work, I think exemplifies for everyone that's paying attention, what's possible when you are supporting others, and valuing others, and giving folks an opportunity to be successful and to be a part of our community to welcome them back into the fullness of our community.
(upbeat music) Bard Prison Initiative is a program of Bard College that delivers higher education services to our community that's incarcerated.
We're in seven prisons right now.
A degree program, so a person can achieve their associates or bachelor's degrees.
And actually very soon they'll be able to achieve their master degrees.
It's really just about education.
And that education allows you, I think, you know a deeper understanding of where you want to go.
- [Tammar Cancer] I didn't have a idea of the career that I wanted to do while I was studying.
Education just, it opens up a whole different world for you.
I did 21 years and came home and I'm fully remote.
I'm working.
It's just a new world for me.
I'm literally getting paid to do exactly what I was doing in BPI.
Listening, reading, writing, interpreting.
The exercise of BPI is, you know, learning is a skill, it's an ability.
I get paid decent money to do what I enjoy doing.
I think that's kind of dope.
(chuckles) (steady music) - [Jed Tucker] One way to think about the prison system is it enforces dependence.
So all the people living there are not allowed to be independent.
You know, that has a lot of long-term impact on people.
Going to college in prison changes the daily routine, 150%.
What any good experience in a liberal arts college should do is help you figure out what you are really interested in.
- Literature allowed me to explore the world which I never knew exists.
And it helped me relate to others in different ways.
This is my awakening.
Mind you, I went to prison at 16, I had no idea.
I didn't know what a man was, I didn't know who I was.
So education kind of molded me to the person I am today.
When I first got out, you know, BPI made sure I had a secure a foundation.
I continue to do what I always loved to do.
Educate myself, and educate others.
- [Promoter] With support from WDI strengthening New York's workforce.
(steady music fades)
Education and Community is a local public television program presented by WMHT
Support provided by the New York State Education Department and the Workforce Development Institute.