The Muhlenberg College Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program is a group of Muhlenberg faculty, staff, students, and individuals who are currently or formerly incarcerated working to leverage the power of education as a radical tool to end mass incarceration and build healthy communities. The community includes individuals from Muhlenberg College classes taught within facilities of the Lehigh County Department of Corrections. Following the success of two semesters of course work, our research team received funding from a Mellon grant to assess the course’s learning outcomes and community impact and report findings. Our Think Tank was inspired by the continued participation of a community of course alumni who desire to remain in contact with one another. Regular meetings with the Think Tank seek to develop each individual’s abilities to facilitate dialogue about mass incarceration within the local community.
We seek to provide
- Innovative learning that results in critical thinking and engaged citizenship.
- Increased community connection, awareness, and resources development.
- Reduced recidivism for individuals who are incarcerated through the investment in education.
- Active dismantling of inequitable systems and bold reimagination of justice.
