College Unbound hosting forum on how higher ed can help those returning home from prison

COLLEGE UNBOUND'S Prison Bridge Program is hosting a symposium, “Educating the Current and Formerly Incarcerated,” on Sept. 21 to discuss successful offender re-entry partnerships in Rhode Island.
COLLEGE UNBOUND'S Prison Bridge Program is hosting a symposium, “Educating the Current and Formerly Incarcerated,” on Sept. 21 to discuss successful offender re-entry partnerships in Rhode Island.

PROVIDENCE – College Unbound’s Prison Bridge Program is hosting a symposium, “Educating the Current and Formerly Incarcerated,” to discuss successful offender re-entry partnerships in Rhode Island.
The symposium will be held at the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center’s Black Box theater on Sept. 21.

James Monteiro, the director of CU’s Prison Bridge Program, said the issue of formerly incarcerated individuals returning to mainstream society is too large to ignore.

“With over 700,000 individuals being released from the prison system across America each year, it only makes sense that we think proactively by providing these individuals with choices and opportunities through higher education instead of continuing to rely on old, reactive solutions that feed mass incarceration, becoming a huge drain on society,” he said.

The Prison Bridge Program, managed by CU, supports formerly incarcerated individuals who want to receive their bachelor’s degree by providing an interest-based, flexible and affordable program.

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The keynote address will be given by Douglas Wood, youth opportunity and learning program officer for the Ford Foundation. Following the keynote, a Monteiro will moderate a discussion featuring formerly incarcerated individuals and participants from housing authorities, businesses, social services, adult education organizations and the public sector.

CU is requesting that any employer interested in hiring formerly incarcerated individuals attend the symposium.

Kaiya Letherer, assistant director of the Prison Bridge Program, explained state-run positions, as well as health care and hospital work, are often limited when it comes to hiring of formerly incarcerated employees.

Letherer said the venue can accommodate up to 200 people; all employers are welcome and encouraged to RSVP before the Sept. 14 deadline.
The Met is at 325 Public St.; the event will begin with registration at 8 a.m. and will run until 3 p.m.

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