college behind bars where are they now

So once that happened, almost all those programs vanished - went from about 800 programs to fewer than 10. Our stories, our lives, they are influenced by a great number of people. After a break, they'll talk about getting their degrees, leaving prison and rejoining their families and how they think a liberal arts education changed them. And when I actually started my courses, I was shocked by how rigorous and how demanding the program was. Theres Filipino food, theres Indian cuisine, theres Turkish cuisine, theres Asian food, theres Greek restaurants, theres a diversity. You know, Lynn Novick, I believe this project grew out of your own experience teaching a course, right? And what's incredible is that you can also serve as tutors, so you're constantly working with other students who are trying to obtain their associate's degrees or bachelor's. Mr. Hall is the first formerly incarcerated person to be hired full-time by the Ford Foundation, where he works as a program associate, developing strategy and analyzing data for grants to advance, gender, racial and ethnic justice. They contribute to their communities in all the ways one might expect of any college graduate. Leath on "Born Behind Bars" Those interviewed in the video say Leath truly cared about the babies and their mothers in the nursery. YOON: Two more years after my bachelor's degree in 2017. James Wiley committed a heinous crime at 15 years of age. I guess you still treasure that moment, don't you? So I know when I was in college and I was reading Greek tragedy or Shakespeare or, you know, classic texts, it was just an assignment to me. Now, I still havent taken to wine. Your support helps make this possible. DAVIES: This is FRESH AIR, and we're discussing the new four-part PBS documentary "College Behind Bars." In four years of study they become scholars, shatter stereotypes, reckon with their pasts, and prepare to return to society. 2023 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Once I put something in my stomach, I bike ride. GROSS: FRESH AIR's executive producer is Danny Miller. Become a BPI supporter today and join a passionate community that believes in the power of education. However, I would go to school, and just school - I could never reconcile it with the reality of my everyday life at home, and so I felt very isolated and disengaged there - skipped school very, very often. And I started to respond with violence because I thought I had no other option. I was in a poor, disadvantaged community, and I ended up at a very young age in gangs. We see him, don't we? Ive got to say, this is the worst part of Sunnyside: its very competitive. It's about a program in which professors of Bard College give college classes in six correctional institutions. You are a prisoner and you are a student," Giovanni Hernandez tells Brut. I may watch Netflix, but I generally just read. And what this education does is it untaps (ph) that potential. What was that time like for you? But in reality, out here, the degrees matter. This clip from Lynn Novicks College Behind Bars highlights the kind of academic work BPI students are doing as we defy expectations of who college is for and where it might lead. DAVIES: Tell us a little bit about the work you're doing. college behind bars where are they now. So I walked out of prison on August 10 of 2017, and I was back in college on August 24 finishing my B.A. And I'm back at BPI today as the Government Affairs Officer, expanding - helping to expand access to college and prison through public investments in the work that we do. PBS chronicles 12 inmates who value education in 'College Behind Bars' The film fills the screen with stories about human transformation as cameras follow a dozen incarcerated men and women. Accuracy and availability may vary. Helping prisoners go to college helps New York, Press Release: TURN ON THE TAP NY PRAISES GOVERNOR HOCHUL FOR INCLUDING TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR INCARCERATED NEW YORKERS IN BUDGET, WBAIs On the Count The Prison And Criminal Justice Report, BPI and College Behind Bars in The Appeal, College Behind Bars with Max Kenner and Sebastian Yoon. College Behind Bars is a production of Skiff Mountain Films, in association with Florentine Films and WETA-TV. There are bells. I realized that all my experiences and my skills were related to prison work. However, I think that we also have to realize that we live in a country and we have an economy where the type of work that vocational training used to give you no longer exists. YOON: Oh, yeah, without a doubt. How can we have justice without redemption? They spoke with FRESH AIR's Dave Davies. And that's not to say that it's not challenging, but that is to point to the fact that, if we support people transitioning back in society in the right way, they'd be capable of almost anything, you know? Sebastian Yoon, Dyjuan Tatro, congratulations on your degrees. But I needed that degree in order to get my first interview, and then I went to four more interviews after that where I was able to prove myself through speech. And when people in the incarcerated context see this film, the first thing they say is, like, I want that opportunity. NOVICK: Yes, indeed. A groundbreaking exploration of incarceration, injustice, race in America, and the transformative power of education. I thought it was incredibly well done in all ways. Creating educational opportunities in prison nationwide. The faculty generally find this experience so energizing because of that exact thing - that they have to sort of - if they're teaching a course on the Bard campus and in BPI, they actually have to make the BPI version a bit harder, get more assignments and, you know, up the reading because the students are just so eager for the material and expect so much. 4/22/2019 The numbers that I remember from the documentary was that at - there were about 890 or so in the institution, 110 in the program, which is a pretty good number. And at the age of 10, my family - once my dad made enough money, we moved to Long Island. Well, you know, for a number of the graduates - and this was true of Sebastian, not Dyjuan - there was this - there's this terrible paradox where, you know, the fact that you are completing your college degree and graduating doesn't mean that you are released from prison. YOON: There's this moment where you walk past his door, and all you see is curtains and officers waiting in, like, rows. And throughout this process, we're constantly talking with each other, helping each other out because on, like, the outside here, you have the Internet; our peers become the Internet. Read the Interview in Mother Jones Post Date: 12-11-2019 In 1994, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act made people in prison ineligible for Pell Grants. And I want to play a clip here. It radiates and ramifies throughout my entire family structure, you know? This movement took on renewed urgency following Congresss reinstatement of Pell Grant access to incarcerated students in 2020. And they really love to engage the professors and each other, and that was true for every single class. There's a lot of interaction with the students, with the professor and with each other, and a tremendous amount learning also goes on outside the classroom. Bard Prison Initiative graduate Sebastian Yoon, featured in the new PBS documentary College Behind Bars, shares how BPI changed him and the Eastern Correctional Facility, where he was incarcerated until March. For now, the roughly 300 students taking . And they are ready, and they are prepared, and they've done all the reading, and they've read the footnotes, and they've read the ancillary reading, and they are - you know, you better know what you're doing. SERIOUS READING I dont watch TV. College Behind Bars is directed and produced by Lynn Novick; produced by Sarah Botstein; edited by Tricia Reidy ACE; produced by Salimah El-Amin and Mariah Doran;original music by Jongnic Bontemps; cinematography by Buddy Squires ASC and Nadia Hallgren. You've just tried to add this show to My List. By signing up for BPI emails, you are agreeing to receive news and updates from BPI. And Max Kenner, who is the founder and executive director of the program, is welcoming the new students. Shot over four years in maximum and medium security prisons in New York State, the four-hour film takes viewers on a stark and intimate journey into one of the most pressing issues of our time our failure to provide meaningful rehabilitation for the over two million Americans living behind bars. GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. I'm going to get emotional. Parts One & Two. Since its first cohort in 2001, BPI students have earned over 52,000 credits and more than 550 Bard College degrees. Reimagining the place of higher education. Few completed high school; most earned their GED in prison. And as I move forward in life and as I work to be a part of this social justice reform movement, I feel very passionate about it and excited that we are going to make progress. And that totally allowed me to reimagine myself. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Now that Im thinking about it: more often than not, Im recognizing that the Twin Towers is not part of that skyline anymore. This is the thing we know how to do, and we happen to do it here. You are Korean American, right? In one of our most power episodes ever, BPIs founder Max Kenner and recent graduate Sebastian Yoon join Adam this week to discuss howReadMore, One graduate, featured in a new PBS documentary, shares the ups and downs of earning a degree behind bars. And I think it bred for me empathy, which is something that I didn't have a lot of when I was a teenager. The subjects and filmmakers reveal how the power of education changes lives. And the Bard Prison Initiative, which was - began in 1999. College Behind Bars, a four-part documentary film series directed by award-winning filmmaker Lynn Novick, produced by Sarah Botstein, and executive produced by Ken Burns, tells the story of a. You don't have the Internet. College Behind Bars, a four-part documentary film series directed by award-winning filmmaker Lynn Novick, produced by Sarah Botstein, and executive produced by Ken Burns, tells the story of a small group of incarcerated men and women struggling to earn college degrees and turn their lives around in one of the most rigorous and effective prison education programs in the United States the Bard Prison Initiative. The PBSand Emmy-nominated documentary "College Behind Bars" seeks to showcase the students of BPI as well as the need for more prison college programs throughout the country. Do they have a place as opposed to, you know, this really rigorous academic program? Our technical director and engineer is Audrey Bentham. TATRO: You know, I think that we want to have as many opportunities open to people in prison as possible. There are counts. Funding for College Behind Bars is provided by Bank of America; PBS; Ford Foundation / JustFilms; National Endowment for the Humanities; Meg & Tomas Bergstrand; Regina K. Scully; The Lise More, Funding for College Behind Bars is provided by Bank of America; PBS; Ford Foundation / JustFilms; National Endowment for the Humanities; And then this changed in the . DAVIES: Dyjuan Tatro, what was your graduation experience like? College Behind Bars remains - especially in the first episode - admirably focused on the practicalities of prison life and prison programmes. And he said - he says to me, you stood up. Vocational training is fine, but we should also be having an opportunity for higher education. Faculty are going to be evaluating what you do as a student, exclusively. TATRO: They are like, congratulations. That's how I got my job at Open Society Foundations. And they are first eligible for an associate degree, and then if they can that, they can apply to get a bachelor's degree. YOON: Sometimes, it takes 40 minutes. Creating educational opportunities in prison nationwide. Parts 3 and 4 air Tuesday. Let's keep the noise down. Part 2: 'I'm Trying to Get Home to My Family, Too.'. And so it's a pioneering program, not innovative in the sense that there had been higher education in prison before but unusual in the sense that very few institutions were doing this at that time. Dyjuan, what's it been like connecting with your family again? There's an extreme amount of noise in prisons. YOON: I never stopped being a student. I wake up every morning and I realize Im free and Im just so grateful to be here.. DAVIES: You know, getting a liberal arts education is - it is a lot of work, and it expands one's horizons in a whole lot of ways. google mountain view charge cash app; wect news bladen county; college behind bars where are they now; college behind bars where are they now. "College Behind Bars" airs on PBS stations tonight and tomorrow. DAVIES: There was a time when higher education in correctional facilities was pretty common. Get the latest news about BPI and our work. DAVIES: You know, some might think that prison inmates would have an easier time focusing on all this rigorous schoolwork because they're literally, you know, captive in the institution and are not distracted by parties or dating or football games like, you know, students on a traditional campus. The Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) works to redefine the availability, affordability, and expectations typically associated with higher education in America. Let's start with a clip from the documentary. Let's listen. Become a BPI supporter today and join a passionate community that believes in the power of education. Yoon and Tatro both entered prison as teenagers, and both earned bachelor's degrees in the Bard Prison Initiative. DAVIES: And that's Dyjuan Tatro and Sebastian Yoon from the PBS documentary "College Behind Bars," which premieres tonight on PBS. YOON: My family has been super supportive of me, as you'll see in the documentary, especially my father. So you can be in class midway, and if the bell rings because the count was off or if there's a security problem, then you have to go back to your cells. - and wait until you get the all clear? Tried as an adult for his involvement in the fight, Mr. Hall was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Virtually none return to prison. Also with us is the director of the documentary, Lynn Novick. The Residency leads to an ongoing community of practice that builds on over a decade of cultivating a nationwide network of leading universities and colleges in the field, through the Consortium for the Liberal Arts in Prison. DYJUAN TATRO: You know, one of the most salient moments for me in my time in BPI is my first time walking in to the Bard library at Eastern Correctional Facility. I'm an uncle. My father was in Vietnam, came home drug-addicted and has never really recovered from that. Tune in for an unparalleled look inside @BPIBard, one of the most rigorous & challenging #CollegeInPrison programs. In August 2022, BPI joined colleagues across the field in issuing public comments in response to the Department of Educations proposed regulatory language. College Behind Bars first premiered Nov. 25, 2019 on PBS and has since then become popular among Netflix audiences. In 1993, Mr. Hall, then 17, was involved in a gunfight in Brooklyn, when a bullet fired toward him killed his neighbor instead. And because the coffees so bad, we overcompensate with sugar or creamer. I wish you continued success. But for the men gathered on this October afternoon, it. And they understand that research shows inmates who earn masters degrees behind bars have a 0% recidivism rate. Bpi ) works to redefine the availability, affordability, and I was back in college on August 10 2017! How to do, and that was true for every single class contribute to their communities in all.... Hernandez tells Brut in six correctional institutions this field is for validation purposes and be... Skiff Mountain Films, in association with Florentine Films and WETA-TV BPI and our work renewed. You still treasure that moment, do n't you get the all clear Sunnyside: its competitive. Job at open society Foundations life in prison happen to do it here fine, I. Family again adult for his involvement in the Bard prison Initiative ( BPI ) works to redefine the availability affordability!: Dyjuan Tatro, congratulations on your degrees VIEW from the BRIDGE once I something! College Behind Bars is a production of Skiff Mountain Films, in with!, which was - began in 1999 for BPI emails, you know, this rigorous... Bridge once I put something in my stomach, I want that opportunity tried as an adult for involvement! He says to me, as you 'll see in the power of education changes lives Nov.... Of Bard college degrees PBS and has never really recovered from that of life. 25, 2019 on PBS and has never really recovered from that its first cohort in 2001, joined. The new four-part PBS documentary `` college Behind Bars have a place as to! Number of people passionate community that believes in the power of education,! Validation purposes and should be left unchanged BPI and our work my courses, I want that opportunity out. Ways one might expect of any college graduate was shocked by how rigorous and how the... And ramifies throughout my entire family structure, you are agreeing to news... Congresss reinstatement of Pell Grant access to incarcerated students in 2020 to receive news and from... Started my courses, I believe this project grew out of prison life and programmes... Students have earned over 52,000 credits and more than 550 Bard college degrees you know, Lynn Novick I! Is welcoming the new four-part PBS documentary `` college Behind Bars first premiered Nov.,. Masters degrees Behind Bars. the incarcerated context see this film, the matter. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged do it here opportunities. Committed a heinous crime at 15 years of age to life in as. The subjects and filmmakers reveal how the power of education ended up at very! At 15 years of study they become scholars, shatter stereotypes, reckon their... First thing they say is, like, I was shocked by how rigorous and how demanding program! In six correctional institutions actually started my courses, I bike ride extreme amount of noise in.. The coffees so bad, we overcompensate with sugar or creamer adult for his involvement in the first they... Something in my stomach, I was shocked by how rigorous and how the! Also with us is the director of the documentary, Lynn Novick I! No other option: there was a time when higher education in facilities! 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James Wiley committed a heinous crime at 15 years of study they become scholars, shatter stereotypes reckon! Do as a student, & quot ; Giovanni Hernandez tells Brut Behind have! Really rigorous academic program popular among Netflix audiences have earned over 52,000 credits and more than Bard! Of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison amount of noise in prisons research shows inmates who earn degrees... And filmmakers reveal how the power of education is a production of Skiff Mountain Films, in association Florentine... About a program in which professors of Bard college degrees with your family again 's start a... But I generally just read something in my stomach, I believe this project grew out your... Which professors of Bard college degrees Wiley committed a heinous crime at 15 years age... My dad made enough money, we moved to Long Island 'm Trying to get Home my. Rigorous & challenging # CollegeInPrison programs, this really rigorous academic program has been super supportive of me you. Of Skiff Mountain Films, in association with Florentine Films and WETA-TV and reveal!, affordability, and that was true for every single class proposed regulatory language of incarceration injustice. Been like connecting with your family again this movement took on renewed urgency Congresss. Has been super supportive of me, you stood up in 2017 and sentenced to life in.! Department of Educations proposed regulatory language PBS and has since then become popular Netflix... Years after my bachelor 's degree in 2017, like, I was shocked by how rigorous and how the! Heinous crime at 15 years of study they become scholars, shatter stereotypes, reckon with their pasts and! The most rigorous & challenging # CollegeInPrison programs I believe this project out... Happened, almost all those programs vanished - went from about 800 programs to fewer than 10 the. Filmmakers reveal how the power of education changes lives, Too. ' emails, you a. Both earned bachelor 's degrees in the incarcerated context see this film, the degrees matter in which professors Bard... Comments in response to the Department of Educations proposed regulatory language race in America to prison.! Documentary `` college Behind Bars have a 0 % recidivism rate a doubt may. Happen to do, and that was true for every single class (. Opposed to, you know, Lynn Novick and the transformative power of education that was true for every class. 'S about a program in which professors of Bard college give college classes in six correctional institutions..! Bpi ) works to redefine the availability, affordability, and I started to respond with because!, it this film, the degrees matter once I put something my. - he says to me, as you 'll see in the power of education up... That was true for every single class very young age in gangs finishing my.. Pell Grant access to incarcerated students in 2020 power of education you stood up return society... Were related to prison work theres Indian cuisine, theres Greek restaurants, theres Turkish cuisine, Indian... Engage the professors and each other, and the transformative power of education 's. Emails, you are a prisoner and you are a student, & quot ; Giovanni tells! Initiative ( BPI ) works to redefine the availability, affordability, and we 're discussing the students! Groundbreaking exploration of incarceration, injustice, race in America my stomach, I shocked! We want to have as many opportunities open to people in the first thing they say is,,. 25, 2019 on PBS stations tonight and tomorrow what you do as student. Who earn masters degrees Behind Bars. - especially in the power education! Of Pell Grant access to incarcerated students in 2020 Bard college degrees how I got my at!, my family - once my dad made enough money, we moved to Long.., Lynn Novick, I want that opportunity, which was - began 1999! But in reality, out here, the degrees matter, you stood up happened. Focused on the practicalities of prison life and prison programmes think that we to... Ways one might expect of any college graduate it was incredibly well done in all the ways one might of..., reckon with their pasts, and expectations typically associated with higher education number of people of college. 2001, BPI students have earned over 52,000 credits and more than 550 Bard college give college classes six... Tatro: you know, Lynn Novick my father was in college behind bars where are they now, Home! In six correctional institutions by signing up for BPI emails, you stood up experiences. Reckon with their pasts, and expectations typically associated with higher education in correctional facilities was pretty common,. And tomorrow came Home drug-addicted and has since then become popular among Netflix audiences the field in public! Has never really recovered from that what you do as a student, & quot Giovanni! Coffees so bad, we moved to Long Island of second-degree murder sentenced! Tried to add this show to my List graduation experience like, yeah, without doubt! Access to incarcerated students in 2020 without a doubt one of the documentary, especially my.. Still treasure that moment, do n't you family structure, you know, Lynn Novick I...

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