August 2023 Newsletter
In a recent meeting with the Petey Greene Program staff I relayed a quote by one of the greatest hockey players of all time, Wayne Gretzky. When he was asked how he was able to rise to the top of his sport, he replied, "I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been." The Petey Greene Program leadership team, staff, volunteers, board members, and students are embracing this innovative mindset as a new school year begins. We continue to learn and grow as an organization as we anticipate where the opportunities will be in the future. We welcome your ideas, suggestions, and input as we drive forward with purpose and determination to make a difference.
We hope that you will join us for some of our newest innovations as we continue to strive to educate and elevate those touched by the criminal justice system. We are looking ahead to our 5K Run/Walk in October and our Going Greene gala in November and hope to see you there to demonstrate the power of our community and propel us towards the change we all wish to see.
Jeffrey Abramowitz, CEO, The Petey Greene Program
Register Now for Our 5K Run/Walk for Education Justice!
Register now to participate on October 28th in our 2nd Annual 5K Run/Walk for Education Justice! Join us in Boston, Princeton or virtually to support the Petey Greene Program and demonstrate with every step we take that everyone deserves a chance, that we cannot discount anyone, and that we are responsible for each other.
We are also seeking sponsors for our event! Your sponsorship directly empowers The Petey Greene Program to support the academic goals of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people through high-quality volunteer tutoring programs. Learn more about how you can sponsor this event.
Get Tickets for our Going Greene Gala!
The Going Greene Gala: The Art of Educational Justice celebrates the intersection of the creative and performing arts with educational justice and personal achievement. Join us on Saturday, November 18th from 7:00 - 10:00 PM, either in person at WHYY in Philadelphia or virtually via Zoom. We will be honoring Jane Golden and Mural Arts Philadelphia for their contributions to art and educational justice. We are also looking forward to highlighting artists and community organizations who are active in this space.
We also invite you to consider sponsoring our event! The Going Greene Gala: The Art of Educational Justice will publicly demonstrate your support of the value of education and art for a marginalized community of learners who deserve to be recognized.
Join the Petey Greene Program Team!
Do you want to advance educational justice every day and increase your involvement with the PGP? We are looking for a Communications and Social Media Intern to work remotely and part-time to promote the great work, updates, and events of the Petey Greene Program! Students can receive course credit if offered by their educational institution.
Staff Spotlight: Welcome to the Team, Cameron!
Cameron Holmes joined the Petey Greene program as Philadelphia's Regional Manager earlier in August! He is a 30-year veteran of the struggle for justice and empowerment and has worked successfully to build a life for himself and his family after being incarcerated for almost 23 years. His lived experiences have informed his activities as an activist, writer, singer, actor, speaker, facilitator, educator and community worker. Cameron has a bachelor’s degree in business from Misericordia University, and an Associate degree in information systems technology from Luzerne Community College. He has also been a Laubach tutor, a certified “Thinking for A Change” Facilitator, a Principles of Innovation Certificate holder from Philadelphia University and the recipient of the “Lucien Blackwell Award” from Philadelphia City Council for being a positive force for change in the community.
Staff Spotlight: Meet Eli!
Eli Diamant recently became Pittsburgh's Volunteer Coordinator! Eli is an educator and artist from Pittsburgh, is a graduate of Pittsburgh Public Schools and received his BA in Philosophy and Ethics from Dickinson College, where his studies focused on the ethics and politics of carceral systems. He greatly values the intersectionality of community, art, and education, and hopes to bring them all together to help individuals help themselves. He began his career as a manager of teaching assistants in the EdTech sector before becoming a teaching artist and welding instructor at the Industrial Arts Workshop. He currently also works with students ages 13-65, teaching them how to weld and understand the components of creating metal sculptures. Eli also runs a sculpture business, creating unique metal art for clients in the Pittsburgh area.
Photo of the Month!
Check out our Pittsburgh team, Eli and Taliya, tabling at Duquesne University's Activity Fair earlier this month! They spoke with many interested students, felt a lot of support, and connected with 16 potential new volunteers. Thank you for all you do, Eli and Taliya!
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.