Nevada advocacy group organizes graduation ceremony for formerly incarcerated students

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – A Nevada group helps previously incarcerated college students have fun a brand new chapter of their life.

On Thursday night, the volunteer group Nevada Jail Training Venture (NPEP) held a Zoom commencement ceremony for eight previously incarcerated graduates.

One in all them is Ismael Santillanes, who went to jail for homicide. “I had no hope, that phrase had no which means.” Whereas finishing his sentence, he fell in love with poetry via workshops held by instructor Shaun Griffin.

“We might learn copies from people who find themselves well-known in poetry however we might additionally learn work that we had turned within the week earlier than,” mentioned Santillanes.

He says that past creating rhythm with every line, it was the method of placing his emotions into phrases that prompted a change in him.

“Asking your self, ‘Is that the suitable phrase?’ Is tantamount to asking your self, ‘Who’re you?’,” mentioned Santillanes. “I began to consider others.”

As soon as out of jail, he moved to California the place he later enrolled in Antioch Faculty.

“They’re very keen that can assist you alongside… Only a very unusual feeling coming from an atmosphere the place everyone is trying down on you,” mentioned Santillanes.

He’s now a broadcast poet and weeks away from finishing his Grasp of Fantastic Arts, an accomplishment he bought to have fun along with his mentor on Thursday night time.

In the course of the digital ceremony, appearing Nevada System of Greater Training Vice Chancellor Renée Davis, Nevada Division Of Corrections Training Director Kim Petersen, and poet Jimmy Santiago Baca spoke briefly.

“Training within the jail system is definitely now fairly small and to pursue a school training and get a level within the outdoors world is an incredible accomplishment,” mentioned NPEP member Karen Gedney.

NPEP is a bunch of college directors, college students and advocates. Gedney says the objective is to make entry greater training accessible to these impacted by the justice system.

“We’ve got little subgroups. A subgroup for NSHE, a subgroup for individuals attempting to have an effect on laws. You recognize, that’s a troublesome one,” mentioned Gedney.

The additionally former jail doctor provides that is the primary of many different annual ceremonies.

9 years after being launched, Santillanes says he nonetheless struggles with discovering jobs however he now sees the long run with hope.

For additional details about NPEP, electronic mail Shaun Griffin at shaunt.griffin@gmail.com, Camille Vega at cvega@tmcc.edu or Karen Gedney at kgedneymd@gmail.com.

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