I recruit members of the community, usually high profile people, to go into state prisons to mentor one-on-one, an incarcerated person, who either has a college degree or is currently enrolled in a college program while in prison.

The mentors tppcially go in as a group of three or four others, usually once a month, and are matched with a prisoner who has been screened.

I taught many of the initial group of men in a master’s degree program at Sing Sing maximum security prison. At the end of the program I asked what I might do to continue to promote their growth. They asked me to get them mentors who would come in and walk with them while they were in prison, and then assist them when they are released.

I took on the challenge and began recruiting mentors. In 2007, I launched a pilot program, personally training the mentors and matching them with appropriate mentorees.

The idea behind the program is to allow the prisoner who is re-intergrating into society to have a secure base upon their release. This can be critical in cutting the recidivism rate.

Even when men and women have their college degrees, they are often isolated from the outside. They are ill-prepared to come out of prison after 10, 15, 25, or 30 plus years. A mentor can build a relationship while in prison, provide valuable tools,and assist after release.

Most of the mentors say that they get more out of the process than they give. They are themselves transformed by going into the prison. Prisoners are transform by education, and money for education must come through legislation.

When people mentor prisoners they become champions of the cause and public opinion drives the legislative process.