PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Reforming the lives through the power of higher education.
Illinois Central College and the Pekin Federal Correctional Institution have partnered with the U.S. Department of Education to put classes in the Pekin prison through their Prison Education Program.
“What we’re doing through this program will empower individuals who are currently incarcerated, and change the trajectory of their lives while positively impacting this community,” ICC President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey said. “And we’re the first one in the nation to do so. So how’s that for all of us?”
Incarcerated students to get federal aid on the path to higher education
An official with the U.S. Department of Education finds joy in being a part of someone else’s unlikely journey.
“They are here to live out their dreams,” said Dr. Amy Loyd, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education with the Department of Education. “Talking with Alice this morning, her childhood dream was to be an I.T. specialist. These women up here grew up dreaming of becoming nurses. They had no idea how to go about doing it. You made that happen.”
Many in the program said it has altered the outcome of their lives for the better.
“I was a teenage mom who dropped out of high school,” said Elizabeth Godinez, the program’s first educator. “I’ve worked several different jobs prior to getting into higher education. So I can appreciate and understand a lot of the struggles that these men and women have been through.”
Godinez said she couldn’t imagine her life without the program.
“This is absolutely my calling. Absolutely my passion. I plan to continue in this for years and years and years to come.”
Two programs are offered for inmates including a business specialist certificate, and an Associate’s degree in applied science for business.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66da779bd84f4b24b7aa28781ba28b2f&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yahoo.com%2Fnews%2Fprison-education-program-launched-illinois-234344459.html&c=15071265063157242967&mkt=en-us
Author :
Publish date : 2024-09-05 12:43:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
