EngageCorps VISTA at the Petey Greene Program

The Petey Greene Program supports the academic and career goals of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people through high-quality tutoring and other educational programs, while serving to educate our volunteers and the public on the manifest injustice in our carceral system. We focus on a critical gap predominant among system impacted people: the lack of access to educational and career pathways to find a job and achieve economic mobility. Formerly incarcerated people are nearly twice as likely to have no high school credential, and eight times less likely to complete college (Couloute 2018). This has economic effects: those with less than a high school diploma earn nearly 53% less than their college-educated peers (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). These disparities put formerly incarcerated people at a significant disadvantage: 65% of returning citizens experience joblessness within 4 years after release (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010) and those who find employment typically receive an income below the poverty line (Looney and Turner 2018). We provide access to individualized programs that help our students make progress towards a degree or career. Our curricula made an impact: in Fall of 2024, tutors reported 89% of our students met their goals in sessions, and 93% of students with at least 2 months of sessions said they progressed towards their goals.

Working with Americorps plays a major role in helping to make our mission possible. The model is an ideal fit for a deeply mission-driven, rapidly-evolving organization like the PGP. Members complete timely and mission-critical projects including but not limited to increasing volunteer recruitment and retention and building systems to ensure support for both tutors and students are adaptable as necessary. We provide a tailored-experience that advances the individual¿s long-term career goals. VISTAs gain exceptional expertise, transferable skills, and subject matter to inform their career journeys.