November is National Gratitude Month. I have a long list of things that I am grateful for; one of the top contenders (after family and friends) is my education. I am sadly aware that educational privilege is not shared by everyone.
I was overjoyed to find Northwestern University (ranked among the top 10 U.S. universities) has graduated adults who are incarcerated with bachelor’s degrees. The first group of women from Illinois’ Logan Correctional Center, 18 strong, joined the ranks of Northwestern graduates! One woman who was released from prison in 2021 was a role model for the others: “I stand here, back inside (this) facility, not as an incarcerated woman, but as a Northwestern graduate, as an executive director and as an advocate for criminal justice reform alongside the women in the community who shared this journey with me.”
Northwestern partnered with Illinois Department of Corrections, along with Oakton College, to deliver college credit to those incarcerated since 2018. The degree program (initiated in 2022) has graduated two groups of men, but this groundbreaking opportunity has now gifted women for the first time. One graduate was able to share her achievement with her 12-year-old son — the first time they saw each other in person since her 2016 incarceration. Elated graduates expressed gratitude to their families and professors.
Nancy Pelosi, first woman to be named Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, delivered the commencement address with her blessing: “Be confident, be yourself, that’s the most valuable thing I can say to you — there’s nobody like you. Know your why, because it’s rough to contend and compete, so it has to be worth it to you for your why.” One woman offered, “My daughter and my granddaughter, they are my ‘whys.’” Another woman poetically referred to Jennifer Lackey, Northwestern Prison Education Program director, as delivering education “…to the mud…planting seeds…which have bloomed into beautiful lotuses.”
Of almost 5000 U.S. higher education institutions, it is estimated that 4% (around 202) offer college credits inside prisons. The number of Americans who are incarcerated is approximately 2 million. As few as 1% of these individuals complete a bachelor’s degree during their prison years — about 2% gain an associate degree and about 7% complete a vocational or academic certificate. This leaves a lot of ground for improvement.
Each college/university must reach out to underserved populations. Educational improvement also is needed in U.S. public K-12 schools. The Program for International Student Assessment evaluates 15-year-old students globally in main areas of study. The U.S. ranks 13th globally in reading, 27th in math, while science is a U.S. strength.
President John F. Kennedy made this phrase popular: “A rising tide lifts all boats,” to emphasize how lifting up economically lagging regions of the country helps everyone. How about lifting up U.S. sagging education performances to help every person’s wellbeing?
Pearls of Peace (PoP) Quiz
548. In what ways do you show gratitude for your education?
549. How might we increase levels of education for all Americans?
