Spotlight Series: New Jersey
The Petey Greene Program operates across the United States as the largest multi-state provider of individualized educational services for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. We’re excited to give you a closer look at each of our regions. Today, let’s visit the region that started it all: New Jersey.
MEET THE TEAM
Audrey Wilson, Division Manager
Audrey joined the Petey Greene Program in 2024. It is her lived experience as a justice impacted individual that drew her to the Petey Greene Program and their work to ensure educational and social justice. Incarcerated at 22, she earned her associate’s degree from Raritan Valley Community College and her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University while inside through the NJ-STEP Program. Upon her release in late 2023 she then went on to earn her master’s degree from Rutgers University. While inside she worked in the education department as a tutor and a teacher’s assistant and saw firsthand the need for quality tutoring both for GED and college classes.
THE PGP IN ACTION
The New Jersey program is continuing to rebuild and expand after the COVID-19 pandemic, but 2025 is already off to a great start for New Jersey. Because of a reconnection with Rowan University, we brought our tutoring to South Woods State Prison, New Jersey’s largest correctional facility, and began teaching our College Bridge writing and math curriculum at Northern State Prison. And, we continued to grow in our established programming: volunteer placements doubled at Northern State Prison, East Jersey Prison, and Garden State Correctional Facility. Audrey shares, “there is a lot of really good potential and in 2025, I know it is all going to take off.”
A program that Audrey is particularly proud of is our partnership with Mountainview Community, a support space and system for formerly incarcerated students attending Rutgers University. The PGP has plugged into this community and offers tutoring to scholars looking for some additional help with their rigorous college course load. “Mountainview is really near and dear to my heart; I know what reentry is like and I know what trying to do school while you are transitioning back into your community is like. To see that things are really falling into place for these students now…it makes my heart happy.”
WHAT’S NEXT IN NEW JERSEY?
Audrey is excited about new partnerships with the Jersey City Free Public Library and Trenton Rescue Mission that will bring the Petey Greene Program’s core offerings of GED preparation and college coursework support to the reentry space, while also working on and distributing digital literacy curriculum to support formerly incarcerated people seeking meaningful employment. She hopes to continue progressing, including an expansion into Edna Mahan Correctional Facility. “It’s the only prison for women in the state so it is essential that we are in there. We really need to be offering our programs there.”
DONATE TODAY
Please support the Petey Greene Program in New Jersey as we continue to rebuild this flagship program to its former pandemic glory with services for learners both behind the walls and in our community. You can be the reason for their success! And remember: all donations made in May will be matched 4X!
Did you know that 26 million people work for companies with matching gift programs? Employer matching gift programs allow you to team up with your employer and combine your donation to the Petey Greene Program with your employee benefit to make a greater impact. If your employer matches your gift, your donation can be doubled or even tripled! Click here to learn how to double your impact this year!