Dear colleagues, faculty, partners, and friends of WCP, We are elated to announce our two-year anniversary at the Indiana Women’s Prison. We are extraordinarily proud of the ways our students and faculty have adapted to the many challenges presented this past year and their unwavering commitment… Read More
Their Stories Helped Lift a 26-Year Ban on Pell Grants for Prisoners
A college education transformed [formerly incarcerated people's] lives. But some critics fear low-quality programs will rush in. Every time Vivian D. Nixon has publicly testified about the power of a college education to transform the lives of those behind bars, she’s drawn attention to one… Read More
On the win, at last
Dear Friend, Last night the President, at last, signed the omnibus spending and COVID relief bill into law. The insidious provision of the ’94 Crime Bill — that revoked modest student aid from incarcerated people and eviscerated college-in-prison instantly — has been reversed. Since the ‘94… Read More
Alumni Resources: Announcing BPI’s January 2021 Transitional Workshop
The BPI Transitional Workshop is a 6-week, compensated program operating in New York City (with remote capability during COVID). It offers support, training, and guidance as you navigate the challenges of a successful transition home and explore new opportunities in continuing your education and… Read More
Alumni Reflection Essay: The Fight Beyond the Wall
Alumnus Shawn Young '19 was invited to participate in BPI's Community Engagement in Public Health & Public Education Internship stipend program on March 13, 2020 - the day that COVID shut everything down. His original proposal to run a reentry support group through Citizen Action… Read More
Alumni Opinion: Felony Disenfranchisement Suppresses the Votes of Black and Latinx Americans
BPI government affairs officer, Dyjuan Tatro '18, argues that felony disenfranchisement should be understood as a racist mechanism of voter suppression. This blog post was originally posted by the Vera Institute of Justice and is reproduced below. I was released from New York State prison,… Read More
Bard at BPL 2020-2021 Fellows
The Bard at Brooklyn Public Library microcollege is pleased to announce our 2020-2021 fellows! The Bard at BPL fellowship program brings select artists, scholars, and professionals who have demonstrated innovation and excellence in their fields to engage with Bard at BPL students over the course… Read More
Alumni Resources: Federal Stimulus Check
Earlier this year the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued federal stimulus checks to individuals and families across the country, but many individuals were unfortunately excluded due to their incarceration status. If you received a federal stimulus check earlier this year, this information does… Read More
Five Years Since Harvard Win
This month marks the five year anniversary of the BPI Debate Union's win against Harvard in September 2015. While the team had been racking up wins since well before the Harvard match, the meet up with Harvard brought international attention to their efforts and… Read More
BPI Gardens in September
Since the spring when faculty first stopped going into the prisons in person, BPI students have received a weekly newsletter from the college informing them of important news, academic updates, writing prompts and math problems, messages from the community, and instructions on how to… Read More