September Newsletter
Dear Friends,
The month of September has flown by with so many achievements, which I’m excited to share. Our dedicated staff welcomed back students and volunteers for the launch of fall programming. From September 17-25, we hosted Going Greene: A National Awareness Week, which culminated in our Annual Benefit: The Right Ingredients for Change, where we recognized an exemplary student, volunteer, and community leader. The PGP team has grown, and I’m thrilled to introduce our newest team members below!
I always love the fall because of the energy and the opportunity to celebrate the strength of our community. This is the time of the year when we lift up the belief that education creates real opportunity for people impacted by incarceration. A special thanks to our partners and donors for the part they play in our work. We are not only reaching more students inside correctional facilities but also endeavoring to build a fairer, more equitable future outside the walls of prisons and jails.
As always, reach out to me if you have feedback or want to get involved!
With gratitude,
Jeffrey Abramowitz, Chief Executive Officer
The Petey Greene Program
Celebrating Going Greene Week
Every year, the Petey Greene Program presents Going Greene, our Annual Awareness Week and Benefit for Educational Justice. This year, we focused on The Right Ingredients for Change, uplifting awareness about challenges related to food insecurity and unemployment that returning citizens face, and how we support our justice-impacted students through reentry as they take on these barriers.
The week started with a Justice Education Series: Chew on This, where we heard from experts and advocates on food and nutrition behind bars. We partnered with Open Hearts Cafe and Philabundance to host community volunteer events to make a difference for families impacted by incarceration and food insecurity issues. We hosted a Networking Lunch for justice-impacted job seekers, partnering with five employers from the Restaurant and Hospitality industry as well as the City of Philadelphia Office of Reentry Partnerships and Uplift Solutions. We asked all of you to get out and support local Fair Chance Employers in your communities by following the PGP’s Dining Guide!
And finally, we honored members of our community who are leaders in this work:
Brandon Chrostowski, Community Leadership Award
Anagha Krishna, James S. Farrin Volunteer Service Award
Starlyn Adamson, Educational Excellence Award and Scholarship
For those who missed the live program, you can view a recording here.
Updates to the Board of Trustees
The Petey Greene Program is proud to be led by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees who commit their expertise, time, and resources to support the organization. This season we bid farewell to three dedicated members of the Board, welcome one new member, and announce a leadership transition.
Welcome, Robert D. Kartheiser, Jr. and Lauri Mathis
Robert D. Kartheiser, Jr. (Bob) is Chief Business Officer of climate tech innovator TerraCO2. Bob brings 35 years of solution-oriented leadership experience in energy and infrastructure across US and emerging markets. He also serves on boards for entities in climate tech and charitable institutions pursuing social justice and educational goals. Bob has lived and worked in Russia, Brazil, and the Middle East.
Lauri Mathis is the Senior Vice President, Internal Audit Director at OceanFirst Bank. She is an audit and compliance professional with over 28 years’ experience in the banking industry. She demonstrates effective leadership within Internal Audit as well as across various lines of business through advisory services.
New Board Leadership
Peter R. Gates who joined the PGP Board in 2015, has been elected President of the Board. Gates is Partner of Acropolis Advisors in Boston. He has more than 20 years of international consulting and entrepreneurial experience in healthcare and medical technology. Previously an Executive Advisor at EY-Parthenon and founding partner of MedEquity Capital, Gates holds a BA from Princeton University and MBA from Harvard Business School.
Farewell and Thank You
Beth Brett served since April 2019 as Secretary. A Stanford journalism graduate and Princeton alumna, Brett brought vital expertise in public relations and marketing to advance PGP's mission.
Alexander Decker (Alec) served as Board President beginning in April 2019. Alec's leadership guided the PGP through significant growth.
Grace Li served three years on the Petey Greene Program board. Of special note, she spent time as volunteer tutor with the PGP, as a student leader, and as manager of the New York region.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Grace, Alec, and Beth for their years of dedicated service and look forward to the fresh perspectives Robert and Peter will bring to our continued work.
Justice Education Series Webinar
According to UNICEF estimates, almost 250,000 children and youth are incarcerated globally, including 21,000 in North America. Many more have incarcerated parents or family members. Join us for a discussion of the many ways in which the criminal legal system affects youth and children across the world, and the people and organizations that are working to support them, advocate for their rights, and build pathways toward justice, healing, and opportunity.
