Each fall and spring, the Education Justice Project accepts applications from faculty and staff members, graduate students and community members who wish to participate in the programming at the Danville Correctional Center, a medium-high security men’s state prison. The project instructors are unpaid volunteers.
Applicants who volunteer during this cycle will start at the prison in spring 2016. The project is especially looking for individuals who can support the anti-violence education program, offer writing workshops and teach upper-division courses. There’s also a need for support in the project’s computer lab and in the community library at the prison. Other program needs include individuals to serve as writing tutors; lead mindfulness discussion groups; teach English as a second language; teach math, science and business workshops; and provide academic advising.
The project is a unit of the College of Education and has been offering advanced undergraduate-level programs to incarcerated people since 2008.
To learn more, there will be an information session at 6 p.m. Sept. 14 in Room 405 of the Illini Union. There also will be a table in the north lobby of the College of Education from noon to 5 p.m. Sept 10. People are invited to attend an open house at the prison from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 25, but should indicate their interest by Sept. 10 by emailing info@educationjustice.net.
Visit the project website to learn more about the programs and to apply. Applications are due Oct. 1.
The mission of the project is to create a model college-in-prison program that demonstrates the positive impacts of higher education upon incarcerated people, their families, the neighborhoods from which they come, the host institution and society as a whole.
