July 2023 Newsletter
In every game we play, as in life, being prepared mentally is only half the secret to success. We also need to be physically ready to meet the challenges that we face. I learned this life lesson shortly after the prison doors closed behind me and I began my journey through incarceration. As the cell walls surrounded me and the society beyond the walls could only be seen from afar, the community that I now belonged to taught me to exercise my body and mind with purpose, persistence, and a passion for what was to come next, my next chapter. Recently I was reminded of these lessons from my past.
After just seven months at the Petey Greene Program I realized that while giving my all to this awesome organization and caring for everything from my staff, board of directors, students, volunteers, and stakeholders, I missed caring for one important thing: myself. We recently announced the upcoming Petey Greene Program 5K Run/Walk for Education Justice and I began training for the event. I know it’s a far cry from the New York or Boston Marathon, but it is a chance to put on the running shoes and get back into shape. My physical state can now catch up with the mental state that has been running full steam since I returned to society nearly 8 years ago.
I hope that you will join me on this journey and walk, run, or do whatever it is that can to keep physically thriving as you lead your life with renewed focus, determination, and passion.
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.
Join the Petey Greene Program Team!
Do you want to advance educational justice every day and increase your involvement with the PGP? We are hiring for a College Bridge Coordinator in partnership with Villanova University. The Coordinator will support the implementation of the Petey Greene Program (PGP) College Bridge program at SCI Phoenix. The program aims at helping students to develop the writing, reading, and numeracy skills necessary to pursue employment and post-secondary education while fostering a sense of educational self-efficacy and self-confidence.
The PGP College Bridge Coordinator will be responsible for assisting PGP staff in recruiting and managing the College Bridge volunteers. This is a remote position with occasional trips to the Department of Corrections facility in Collegeville, PA required. This is a three-year, grant-funded position and subject to grant funding.
A New Report from the New England Commission on the Future of Higher Education in Prison
Lynne Sullivan, the PGP’s Massachusetts and Rhode Island Regional Manager, recently served on the Commission on the Future of Higher Education in Prisons to publish this Report. Read her introduction of the Report, some key takeaways, and her experience being a part of its ideation and creation.
Staff Spotlight: Welcome to the Team, Margy!
Margaretta “Margy” Wilcox (she/her) joined the Petey Greene Program earlier this month as the Director of Regions. In this role Margy provides support to and oversees the programmatic work of the PGP Regional Managers. Prior to joining the PGP, Margy worked on programmatic and organizational development and growth for a variety of organizations that focused on community violence intervention, adult education, and workforce development. Margy holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Clark University and a master’s degree in Urban Education from Temple University. We are so thrilled to have you on board, Margy and are excited to see how you shape the Petey Greene Program's regional work!
Staff Spotlight: Welcome to the team, Sondra!
Sondra Fiorella joined the Petey Greene Program this month as the Volunteer Coordinator in Washington D.C. In this role, she supports volunteer tutors in PGP’s DC area jails while they continue implementing the Petey Greene Program’s mission. As a former PGP volunteer, Sondra is passionate about serving our incarcerated population and working towards eliminating the structural barriers they face. Originally from Philadelphia, Sondra moved to D.C. to study at George Washington University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Social Justice and Criminal Justice. Before joining PGP, Sondra served as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member designing and implementing education programs in DCPS schools to provide students access to fair and equitable education.
Photo of the Month!
Our CEO is getting ready for the 5K Run/Walk for Education Justice on October 28 in Boston, Princeton and virtually! We can't wait to see all of you there. Register now!
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.