SF’s Free to Learn initiatives are supported by a Florida Humanities Greater Good: Humanities in Academia Grant for SF’s project Humanities Behind & Beyond Bars. Project initiatives include a podcast series, Free to Learn: Education In and Out of Prison, two Ethics Slams to engage both the SF campus and broader Gainesville community in constructive dialogue about incarceration’s ethical, humanitarian dimensions, and a Spring Symposium, Unlocking Purpose and Potential, which will provide a platform for sharing stories and information, considering the role that education can play in breaking the cycle of incarceration, and exploring steps that we as individuals, and as a collective college community, can take to provide opportunities and a community of care for our citizens who are impacted by incarceration.
The aim of this project and its initiatives is (1) to increase public understanding of incarceration in Florida, its impact on our communities, and the role that education can play in reducing rates of recidivism and promoting safer, stronger communities; (2) to raise the voices of current and formerly incarcerated individuals (especially current and former SF students with carceral experience) to help inform steps SF can take to support this segment of their student population; and (3) to shine a spotlight on the obstacles faced by those with carceral experience in gaining access to education and resources that support their successful re-entry into the community post-incarceration.
Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities (https://floridahumanities.org/)
(Opens in new window) (https://floridahumanities.org/) with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities (https://www.neh.gov/)
(Opens in new window) (https://www.neh.gov/). Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Romarilyn Ralston is a nationally recognized leader in supporting students with carceral experience. She is currently the executive director of Project Rebound at California State University Fullerton. It was her work with Project Rebound that was, in many ways a catalyst for what we are trying to do here at Santa Fe. Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions ...
9 May 2023
Learning to Belong
Over the past couple of months we have been sharing the stories of current and former Santa Fe students with carceral experience. During our last podcast we featured a discussion with administrators, staff, and faculty at Santa Fe. Today, we wanted to bring as many of our guests together as possible. This podcast was recorded in front of a live audience during the Free To Learn symposium on April 14th in the Santa Fe College Lyceum. Funding for this program was provided through a grant...
11 Apr 2023
Learning to Help
Over the last few weeks we’ve been talking to formerly incarcerated students in an effort to better understand their experience--the obstacles they face, and the keys to their success. Today we’re going to focus on the institutional perspective. What are the constraints faced by institutions when it comes to supporting formerly incarcerated students? How do we address the needs of these students without amplifying the stigma many of them face because of their experiences? How can we systemati...
4 Apr 2023
Learning to Make a Difference Part 2
We’re continuing our conversation with Adrian Price. Adrian’s progress in higher education has been the result of a combination of determination, optimism, and luck. His story underlines the role that entire communities play when it comes to supporting students with carceral experience. Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this p...
28 Mar 2023
Learning to Make a Difference
Adrian Price, a student at Santa Fe College and member of the justice club, has been a force of nature. This podcast is, in large part, the product of his desire to shine a spotlight on the needs of formerly incarcerated students. Over the course of this discussion, you’ll get a sense of his passion for social justice and the efforts he’s making to pay it forward. His optimism in the face of some significant obstacles is inspiring and his story illustrates the power of meeting the right peo...
22 Mar 2023
Learning to Heal
For some of us, learning can open our eyes to the suffering of others. Education can be a way of healing and a way to help others heal from the trauma in their lives. Today we’re going to be talking with Angie Dougherty who is currently pursuing her associates at Santa Fe. I was grateful to be able to talk with Angie about the ways she is actively working to make a difference in the lives of those around her and how her education is helping her to be able to do the most good. Funding for thi...
14 Mar 2023
Whatever It Takes part 2
When a person understands what education can do for them, when they understand the opportunities it opens and its power to change lives, they will move heaven and earth to be able to pursue it. In this episode, we continue our conversation with John Wise who is currently studying data science at Indiana University. He was also briefly a student at Santa Fe College. John’s story, in many ways, is about his determination to do whatever it took to pursue his education both in and out of prison. ...
8 Mar 2023
Whatever It Takes part 1
When a person understands what education can do for them, when they understand the opportunities it opens, and its power to change lives, they will move heaven and earth to be able to pursue it. In this episode, we’ll be talking with John Wise who is currently studying data science at Indiana University. He was also briefly a student at Santa Fe College. John’s story, in many ways, is about his determination to do whatever it took to pursue his education both in and out of prison. While his j...
13 Feb 2023
Securing the Future part 2
Welcome to Free to Learn, a podcast exploring the stories of formerly incarcerated college students. My name is Jason Frank. I'm an Instructional Designer at Santa Fe College, and I'm interested in better understanding how we can create a learning environment that better meets the needs of these students. The first step to good design is listening to the people you're working to support. We're continuing our conversation with Beth Dodd. If you haven't listened to part one of this interview, I...
6 Feb 2023
Securing the Future part 1
We all pursue education is a path to a job or career that can put food on our tables and a roof over our heads. Others see education as a way to make a positive difference in the world which adds to our collective security. Post-carceral life is fraught with insecurity. Without any education, rates of recidivism hover around 70-85%. Education and a meaningful career can reduce those odds significantly. Beth Dodd is a graduate of Santa Fe College and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s ...
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