Criminal Justice Reform Advocate
Overview
In my general studies class, we were all required to participate in service-learning. This was the first time I had done service as a requirement for a class, so I was excited to see how it would all unfold. I signed up to volunteer at the Prison Scholar Fund, which is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide access to higher education for incarcerated individuals. My position as the student guru of outreach was to attend community events where I could network and share about the work that the Prison Scholar Fund was doing, as well as communicating with those that sent us letters and requests for funding while behind bars. I was drawn to this position because it aligned with my passion of restorative justice and changing how our criminal justice system functions.
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Personal Importance of Work
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When I was deciding where I wanted to volunteer to meet the requirement of this class, it was important to me that I chose something that connected to my passions. I didn’t want to just volunteer somewhere so that I could check it off a task list, but I wanted to be fully present and engaged. The Prison Scholar Fund connected with me because I was very passionate about exploring different ways to transform a very unjust system that seeks to punish instead of rehabilitating. Upon learning about the impact that programs like this had on lowering recidivism rates and generating more revenue for society, I was inspired to be a part of this organization and contribute to the investment in people that for too long have been forgotten in the margins.
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Tasks Accomplished
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Received letters from incarceration individuals regarding a myriad of requests.
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Scanned and uploaded all written records of letters and paperwork to Salesforce.
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Responded to requests for applications, funding, or textbooks from individuals.
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Participated in community facing events to network and advocate for prisoner education.
Leadership Competencies Gained
Here I am pictured with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal at a town hall that was hosted in Seattle. I was attending the town hall on behalf of the Prison Scholar Fund and advocating for prisoner education.
Positive Attitude
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When I first signed up for my service-learning position at the Prison Scholar Fund, I had a vision of what being the student guru of outreach would look like. I envisioned that I would be talking with current and future scholars over the phone and advocating on their behalf. I envisioned doing groundbreaking work and saving the day. When my initial idea of what I would be doing at the organization didn’t align with what I was actually doing, I had to make an effort to keep a positive attitude about my role at the organization. The work wasn’t always glamorous, but it was necessary to support the mission. On days when it just felt like “doing time” I had to ask myself, “who are you really here for? The scholars or your own ego?” Re-centering the reason why I was volunteering helped me keep a positive attitude while engaging with the work. Learning how to keep a positive attitude even when things aren’t going the way you want them to will always be a valuable lesson to learn because life doesn’t always go our way, but it is up to us to make the best of it.
Empowerment
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Being incarcerated can be very demoralizing experience and can significantly impact a person’s self-esteem. Though contrary to many people’s beliefs, many individuals who are incarcerated are eager to take advantage of educational opportunities that they weren’t afforded when they were in society. During my time at the Prison Scholar Fund, I had the privilege of learning about the experiences of those that had taken the opportunity to pursue a college degree and had plans or had already established a non-profit while being incarcerated. One aspect of the Prison Scholar fund was to shine a light on these stories. We gave the individuals experiencing incarceration the ability to share their own stories and to feel empowered by them.
Writing
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One of my roles as the outreach coordinator was to respond to letters that current and potential scholars would send. The letters ranged from inquiries about the organization to requests for funding to testimonials about how the program has impacted them to share on different social media platforms. When I received these letters, I had to accurately identify what the individual needed and come up with a response that was concise, professional, but also warm. I would also send emails to different universities on behalf of our scholars which required a different type of tone and format. I learned a lot about how to construct a business email regarding spacing and letterheads, and even how to address it. Emails and writing letters will always be an important aspect of any organization or business, so I am grateful that I had that exposure to aid me in my professional development.
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Service
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This volunteer experience was an act of service, but it also served as an opportunity for me to engage with what service really means. There were times that I was conflicted, after seeing what someone was incarcerated for, on whether what I was doing was ethical or not. I had the opportunity to think deeply about power and what it meant for me to be in a position where I had a say on who received service. I had to reflect on what it meant to serve to my best ability so that I did right by those that relied on the service. As a volunteer I was in a position of power, and that called for a disposition of humility. Practicing humility will be an ongoing practice wherever I go.
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Social Justice
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Volunteering at the Prison Scholar Fund was an act of social justice. Unfortunately, we don’t organically have a criminal justice system that believes in rehabilitating people so that they can productively return to society. It is built on punishment and keeping people in or returning to maintain a system that is built on racism and furthering inequities. The Prison Scholar Fund is an organization that exists to transform these inequitable systems and make for a better world to the benefit of everyone. I felt empowered knowing that my act of service may have an immeasurable impact on someone’s life who didn't believe they’d have a second chance, and for the future of America’s criminal justice system.
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Looking Ahead
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This experience of volunteering with the Prison Scholar Fund helped me narrow in on my passions and how I personally want to intercede on the expansive issue of criminal justice reform. I realized that I really want to interact with incarcerated individuals face to face instead of behind a screen or via mail and use my passion for counseling in a prison setting. This experience further solidified my knowledge in how investing in restorative programs lowers recidivism and helps society as a collective. I am grateful that I was encouraged to be a critical thinker while engaging at this nonprofit organization, because it has helped me reflect on my identity and the ways I contribute to oppression, often with good intentions, more often.