Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison

Not wasting any time, Senate Commerce Chair-to-be Sen. Ted Cruz wrote a long screed urging National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to halt its Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, which would provide resources to organizations that help the country's most vulnerable populations get online. I won't get into his novel theory as to why the entire program is unconstitutional. I'll just say that everything he complains about is MANDATED BY THE LAW. No, he didn't vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, but that doesn't give him the ability to undermine it. Here's the statement the Affordable Broadband Campaign released a few hours ago. It's going to be a fun two years! https://lnkd.in/eJ5dSCE8

Many European countries are currently developing digital services for prisoners. Sustainable prison planning is also becoming increasingly important. I was interviewed about Finland's Smart Prison concept. The project was carried out between 2018 and 2023, when the concept was expanded to three prisons. At the moment, there are already numerous different implementations of digital services for prisoners all over the world. Now there is also a pilot project in Austria to provide prisoners digital devices for studying, and a new sustainable prison using geothermal and solar energy has also been built lately. Read my interview and Austria’s experiences here: https://lnkd.in/dbGwaaWC Jakob Pallinger, Hubert Unger, DER STANDARD In addition, you can listen to what digitalisation means when combined with artificial intelligence (AI). Besides personal cell devices, Smart Prison concept in Finland also includes AI work done by prisoners. This type of work is actually far from easy "clickwork". Instead, prisoners read construction and real estate documents and train artificial intelligence to "understand" these texts too.??This form of work develops literacy, digital skills and concentration. Listen to: https://lnkd.in/dU2W_Nrc Orla Barry Can digitalisation solve global challenges in prisons and enable meaningful activities, rehabilitation and vocational skills, and smooth everyday life??Can it also support sustainability? I think it can. #prisons #prisoners #digitalisation #rehabilitation #sustainability #artificialintelligence

I’m so excited to see the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia release our digital “fact packs” for institution of higher education. Last summer (2023), we provided data support for the first generation of fact packs, which were a giant leap forward in data accessibility and visualization. While that first version (updated this summer) set the standard, the digital version is a quantum leap forward, yet again. Huge, grateful shout out to Tod Massa and the tiger team for getting a great product to the finish line in three months, when it was expected to take a year or more just to get started. #virginia #highered #highereddata

Long read, worth a meander for all of us whose work is centered on the value of education and its place in class entrapment or socioeconomic mobility. I read it looking for quotations pertinent to higher education in prison and wound up in far fields wondering about whole people and how hard we are to assess, to change, and to live with together in something approaching fairness. On a good day, kindness.

Patrick & Henry Community College is thrilled to be named the education and training provider for the incarcerated population of the Adult Detention Center with Henry County Sheriff's Office. These training programs will help sure incarcerated individuals are able to obtain the job skills they need to promote economic stability and reduce recidivism upon their release. https://lnkd.in/e-UHdcj8 Virginia's Community College System

?? Register for "Kemba" Screening & Discussion at Virginia Union University! Virginia Humanities, Justice Policy Institute, & Virginia Union University are honored to present a special screening of the BET+ Original Movie, Kemba, based on the inspiring life story of Kemba Smith Pradia, accompanied by a thought-provoking discussion with key figures in advocacy and justice: ? Kemba Smith Pradia – Executive Producer of Kemba ? Delegate Rae Cousins – Representative for the 79th District, Richmond ? Keith Wallington – Director of Advocacy, Justice Policy Institute ? Rev. Dr. Michelle Mcqueen Williams – Executive Director, P-12 Experiences & Educational Initiatives, VUU ? Paul Taylor – Founder, RVA League for Safer Streets ?? Location: Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center, Virginia Union University ?? November 21, 2024 ?? Pre-Event Reception: 5:30 PM ?? Main Event: 6:00 PM ?? Register here: https://lnkd.in/eJGiFeFm Come join us to learn about the ongoing efforts for social and criminal justice reform and explore Kemba's journey of resilience, advocacy, and transformation—don’t miss this impactful event!

Another new report drops today from Ithaka S+R: "Uneven Terrain: Learning Spaces in Higher Education in Prison." We explored how spatial, environmental, and design factors impact education in correctional settings and this report shares preliminary findings. "To improve educational spaces in prisons, it's essential to focus on functionality, flexibility, and inclusivity." This is the first publication from Justice Initiatives' collaborative project with Ennead Architects, funded by Ascendium Education Group, with more in the months to come! Link to read the full publication -- https://lnkd.in/eJN5XQ5A

A Full Picture: Cornell University ILR School, through its Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative (CJEI), is piloting a new online tool called Restorative Records to allow job applicants with criminal records to give a full picture of their pasts and share details on their education, rehabilitation and good conduct efforts post release. Unlike traditional criminal record databases, which often highlight negative aspects of a person’s background, Restorative Records allows individuals to showcase their reentry efforts, including community involvement, micro-credentials, skills training, mentoring, participation in health and counseling programs, and substance abuse recovery efforts. As CJEI Director Timothy McNutt emphasized, “We want to provide tools to help people overcome [the bias that’s built into the system], but also so employers can benefit from hiring this talented workforce. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e65wkTYQ