Racial Equity Professional Institute: Equity Beyond Pell
The Education Trust, in partnership with peer organizations, Operation Restoration, From Prison Cells to Ph.D., and the Vera Institute of Justice hosted their first Racial Equity Professional Institute on July 28, 2021. This institute dove into racial equity issues faced by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students and helped emerging leaders in the field improve learning for systems-impacted populations on campus and in prison. The institute also addressed equity considerations in Pell restoration implementation, and participants had the opportunity to engage and learn with expert scholars, practitioners, and systems-impacted individuals.
Click through below to view all sessions from the event.
Workshop One: Pell Grant Restoration Implementation
Panelists discussed the challenges to racial equity, leadership, and quality of higher education programs for incarcerated students given Pell Grant restoration implementation.
Panelists:
- Dr. Erin Corbett (Founder & CEO of Second Chance Educational Alliance)
- Mr. Sean Addie (Director of Correctional Education, U.S. Department of Education)
- Dr. Stanley Andrisse (Executive Director, From Prison Cells to PhD)
- Ms. Syrita Steib (Executive Director, Operation Restoration)
- Moderator: Ms. Jessie Hernandez-Reyes (Policy Analyst, The Education Trust)
Breakout Session: Pell Grant Application Process for Incarcerated Students
Panelists discussed the Pell Grant application process for incarcerated students looking to enroll in higher education programs.
Panelists:
- Mr. Sean Addie (Director of Correctional Education, U.S. Department of Education)
- Patrick Rodriguez (Justice Fellow, The Education Trust)
- Mrs. Brittani Williams (Higher Education Senior Policy Analyst, The Education Trust)
Breakout Session: Hiring and Leadership in Pell Grant Restoration Implementation
Panelists discussed hiring for leadership to direct higher education programs for incarcerated students.
Panelists:
- Dr. Stanley Andrisse (Executive Director, From Prison Cells to PhD)
- Montrell Carmouche (Justice Fellow, The Education Trust)
- Jordyn Bussey (National and State Partnership Senior Associate, The Education Trust)
Breakout Session: Advocacy in Pell Grant Restoration Implementation
Panelists discussed the importance of advocacy in Pell Grant restoration implementation to provide racially equitable and high-quality higher education programs for incarcerated students.
Panelists:
- Ms. Syrita Steib (Executive Director, Operation Restoration)
- Dr. Wil Del Pilar (Vice President for Higher Education, The Education Trust)
- Dr. Sarah King (Doctoral Resident, The Education Trust)
- Mr. William Freeman (Justice Fellow, The Education Trust)
Workshop Two: Equity Beyond Instruction: How Do We Create Equity for Incarcerated Students?
Panelists discussed the importance of providing wrap-around services tailored to incarcerated students across academic advising, basic needs, financial aid, and disability to help ensure equitable student success in higher education.
Panelists:
- Mrs. Aminah Elster (Organizer, Berkeley Underground Scholars)
- Mr. Christopher Agans (Executive Director, NJ-STEP, Rutgers University)
- Dara Baldwin (Director, National Policy Center for Disability Rights)
- Kevin McCarthy (UC Berkeley Student, UC Berkeley Underground Scholars Initiative)
- Moderator: Belinda Wheeler (Senior Program Associate, Vera Institute of Justice)
Breakout Session: Academic Advising for Incarcerated Students
Panelists discussed best practices for providing academic advising to incarcerated students in higher education programs.
Panelists:
- Mr. Christopher Agans (Executive Director, NJ-STEP, Rutgers University)
- Mr. Omari Amili (Justice Fellow, The Education Trust)
- Mr. Jaime Ramirez-Mendoza (Higher Education Policy Analyst, The Education Trust)
Breakout Session: Basic Needs and Financial Support for Incarcerated Students
Panelists discussed best practices for providing basic needs and financial support to incarcerated students in higher education programs.
Panelists:
- Mrs. Aminah Elster (Organizer, Berkeley Underground Scholars)
- Mary Baxter (Justice Fellow, The Education Trust)
- Mrs. Brittani Williams (Higher Education Senior Policy Analyst, The Education Trust)
Breakout Session: Tutoring and Academic Support for Incarcerated Students
Panelists discussed best practices for providing tutoring and academic support for incarcerated students in higher education programs.
Panelists:
- Kevin McCarthy (UC Berkeley Student, UC Berkeley Underground Scholars Initiative)
- Mr. William Freeman (Justice Fellow, The Education Trust)
- Anna Hyunah Byon (Higher Education Senior Policy Analyst, The Education Trust)
Breakout Session: Support for Incarcerated Students with Disabilities
Panelists discussed best practices for providing support to incarcerated students with disabilities enrolled in higher education programs.
Panelists:
- Dara Baldwin (Director, National Policy Center for Disability Rights)
- Ms. Alexa Garza (Justice Fellow, The Education Trust)
- Dr. Wil Del Pilar (Vice President for Higher Education, The Education Trust)
