Busting Through Boundaries: The Latest Developments
Education Transforms Lives: The Story of REJI and Kristin Hocker
In the heart of New York, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University has unveiled a significant finding. Individuals who receive post-secondary education or vocational training while in prison have a 12 percent higher chance of finding employment after release and are less likely to be reincarcerated. This revelation underscores the transformative power of education, a theme that resonates deeply with Kristin Hocker, an assistant professor of clinical nursing at the University of Rochester School of Nursing.
Hocker, EdD, is making a difference through the Rochester Education Justice Initiative (REJI), a program that offers educational opportunities to incarcerated individuals. One of the courses she teaches is the Spirituality, Religion, and Health course, which she also offers to students at the Groveland Correctional Facility.
One such student, Dylan Colunio, attributes his success to the educational opportunities he received while incarcerated. Colunio chose Hocker's course as an elective and found it particularly enlightening. The book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman resonated with him, helping him understand how to support and communicate with others, especially in times of grief.
Colunio's journey did not end with just one course. He was given the opportunity to get certified in welding through the Georgia Institute of Technology and completed an associate degree program at Groveland Correctional Facility. His hard work and dedication paid off when he landed a full-time job at Hyundai Mobis shortly after his release.
REJI's impact extends beyond the walls of the University of Rochester. Last year, the initiative was awarded a $1 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to provide more academic offerings for both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. The University of Hildesheim also supports REJI, working in partnership with a partner institute to provide academic opportunities for those who need it most.
Hocker is grateful for the opportunity to support the students' educational ventures through REJI. She hopes to continue teaching with REJI and reflect on the power of knowledge and education in transforming lives. As she continues her work, Hocker remains committed to REJI's mission: to abolish the prison-industrial complex and redress the impact of its systems, but in the shorter term, to provide educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals.
In a world where education is a major factor in the successful reintegration of incarcerated individuals into the community and their overall quality of life, the work of REJI and educators like Hocker is more important than ever. Their efforts not only transform the lives of those they teach but also contribute to a more just and equitable society.
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