Dear John

Thanks so much.  I do have several questions I'd like to ask you.  May I call you and perhaps set up an appointment?  Michael     archangels at att.net

-------------- Original message from "John Gordon" <jgordon at fortunesociety.org>: -------------- 


Michael,

I work for the Fortune Society and would be happy to provide you with any information I can about our work. Fortune works with several thousand ex-prisoners a year. We provide counseling, career development and job readiness, substance abuse treatment, HIV peer education, health and housing services for those former prisoners who are HIV positive. We run four alternative to incarceration programs and have a 59 bed transitional housing center in Harlem.

And of course we have an education program which serves over 400 people per year. We offer classes in small groups from basic literacy through pre-GED as well as ESOL. We have a very active computer lab, www.fortunesociety.org/education.  

Many of the comments Tom made in his email are true for students here. I would mention, as well, that many of them are now back in environments which conspire against success. Many are homeless, and finding a job is very difficult for people coming out of prison, especially a job that will pay the rent here in New York City. Many lack strong family support systems. The lure of the streets and harassment from the police take their toll as well. Some are mandated here by the courts or pushed by their probation officer. Education is not always on the top of people's priority list. 

Despite all that, this can be a very exciting place to work. Most people at Fortune are in a process of trying to make profound changes in their lives. There is a lot of transformation happening, and it's a privilege to be able to play a small part in that. 

I'd be happy to discuss working with ex-prisoners further if people are interested. We have a lot of experience, but we certainly have a lot to learn as well.

John Gordon
The Fortune Society







From: focusonbasics-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:focusonbasics-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Michael Keith Pen Ultimate Rare Books
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 12:15 PM
To: The Focus on Basics Discussion List
Subject: [FocusOnBasics 284] Re: Supporting out of school study


Tom,

That was  a valuable observation about access to educational programs inside prison (where basic needs are met) and outside.  Does anyone know of any literature on some of these programs, like NYC's Fortune Society, which address themselves to ex-offenders?  Thanks, Michael

-------------- Original message from Woods <woodsnh at isp.com>: -------------- 



> Hi Barb, 

> Our students sometimes return from prison to towns where they do not 

> have easy access to our community campuses . In one such case, I had a 

> student who needed just two more credits to graduate, but he was moving 

> out of state. I provided him with assignments to complete and return to 

> me by mail, sort of a correspondence course, I guess. The outcome was 

> not what I hoped for. He called me once, but never did any of the 

> assignments. 

> 

> We have found that our students often do very well in school when they 

> are incarcerated, but many forces conspire to make continued schooling 

> difficult after they get out. In prison, their basic needs are met, 

> meals, health care, warmth, bed, clothing, etc. On their own back in the 

> community, they have to work hard to provide these things for 

> themselves. Other issues such as family, social, job, transportation and 

> other responsibilities required of them by their probation office (e.g. 

> substance abuse counseling, restitution, etc.) interfere with their 

> ability to attend classes and progress stops. We have not yet found a 

> good solution for these folks. 

> 

> A few of us have been thinking about putting some sort of online 

> distance learning program on our school web site, but this is only in 

> the dream stage right now. 

> 

> Tom Woods 

> Community High School of Vermont 

> 

> Barbara Garner wrote: 

> 

> Has anyone's program taken this into account and put into place supports for 

> students who want to continue to study on their own when not actively 

> participating in a program? 

> 

> ; 

> ---------------------------------------------------- 

> National Institute for Literacy 

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