A NOTE FROM OUR CEO
Something magical happens when you help someone understand a new idea, master a tricky skill, or reach a oncedeemed-impossible educational or career goal. Central to the magic is the connection between the student and the volunteer. This magic has been the North Star of the Petey Greene Program. It has guided the route of our longevity, growth, and success in helping currently and formerly incarcerated people achieve what once may have felt unimaginable.
We at the Petey Greene Program are proud of the things we’ve accomplished in 2024. We began implementing our new fiveyear strategic plan which guides the expansion of our work across the country and increases the scope of the programs and services that the PGP offers. We began reaching new students with different interests through support for career and workforce development credentials, and piloting programs to increase accessibility for students speaking languages other than English. We developed a first-of-its-kind Inside Tutor Training which provides the high-quality training and leadership development that the PGP is known for directly to incarcerated scholars, empowering them to support peers on the inside. We also launched the Puttkammer Center for Educational Justice a national think and action tank, program evaluator, and home for fellowship programs for justice impacted individuals.
Above all, the Petey Greene Program saw growth across all of our metrics including total number of students served, volunteers placed, and number of partner facilities and sites. The greatest magic is when we can help even more students achieve their educational goals than ever before.
Thank you to all of our volunteers, staff, board members, donors, partners, and most importantly, our students, for making 2024 our most magical year yet and setting the stage for tremendous things to come. We know our work is still only beginning. We hope to count on your support, hard work, and dedication in our ongoing work towards educational justice.
THE PETEY GREENE PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
Since its founding, the PGP has tutored more than 20,000 students at nearly 150 programming sites in correctional facilities and reentry programs.
We've placed more than 8,500 volunteers and recruited from more than 40 partner universities in seven states and the District of Columbia.
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 envision a world in which all people directly impacted by the criminal legal system have access to high-quality educational programming. The Petey Greene Program will inspire our alumni to become advocates and leaders in transforming the criminal legal system.
1,945 STUDENTS
8,368 VOLUNTEER HOURS
40 COMMUNITY PARTNERS
804 VOLUNTEER PLACEMENTS
66 TUTORING SITES
2,259 HOURS OF PREPARATION
37 UNIVERSITY PARTNERS
4,968 TUTORING SESSIONS
STUDENTS MET THEIR ACADEMIC GOALS IN 88% OF TUTORING SESSIONS, AS REPORTED BY TUTORS
STUDENTS
3RD ANNUAL 5K RUN/WALK FOR EDUCATION JUSTICE
On April 13, we hosted our 3rd Annual 5K Run/Walk for Education Justice in Boston, Princeton, and virtually across the country, while expanding into Philadelphia for our inaugural race at the Navy Yard! Across our regions, we had nearly 250 runners and walkers join in to fundraise for education justice and bring awareness to our mission. With their generosity, enthusiasm, and engagement, we raised nearly $20,000 to support currently and formerly incarcerated people in reaching their academic and career goals. We even had a group of eager and proactive students in Washington D.C. gather to host their own “pop-up” 5K race at the National Mall, further expanding our presence and setting the stage for the 4th Annual 5K Run/Walk to include a fourth course in our nation’s capital.
We are endlessly grateful for our sponsors, Jacki and Joe Kelly, for supporting our event and making it the success it was!
GOING GREENE: A VICTORY LAP FOR EDUCATION JUSTICE
On September 26, we hosted our 2nd Annual Going Greene in Philadelphia! The event was both a meaningful and joyful opportunity to recognize and thank our partners, volunteers, and students for their efforts, share the impact of our work with our supporters and donors, and uplift shared goals around envisioning a more just educational system.
We were thrilled to honor Larry Miller, Chairman of the Board of the Jordan Brand at Nike, with the Community Leadership Award for his commitment to activism which was inspired by his personal experiences with the criminal legal system.
We also presented Sahiba Tandon with the inaugural James S. Farrin Volunteer Award for her excellence and dedication as a volunteer. The award, named in honor of our founding Executive Director, Jim Farrin, recognizes an outstanding PGP volunteer for their passion and dedication to support their students and for their leadership in working to transform the criminal legal system.
Special thanks to Rivers Casino, a proud Second Chance Business, for hosting and sponsoring the event! We are so grateful to the generous sponsors, volunteers, and staff who made the evening possible.
We look forward to seeing you at our next Going Greene on September 25, 2025!
THE 2024 JUSTICE EDUCATION SERIES
The PGP’s Justice Education Series is designed to inspire justice-oriented action among our volunteers and to raise public awareness of the policies and practices that create mass incarceration. In 2024, we hosted four webinars for our volunteer base and greater audience.
In these panel discussions, we strive to prioritize the voices and expertise of formerly incarcerated people and other system-impacted people. Since the series’ inception, nearly 60% of panelists have identified as system-impacted. We also collaborate with partner organizations, to spotlight facets of the criminal justice system that our volunteers and community members might not be exposed to in their PGP training, in the classroom, or through mainstream media. From these conversations and our other justice-oriented leadership programming, we have developed a reputation for helping our audience expand their knowledge about the carceral state, its impacts, and the potential for education to serve as a pathway to freedom and thriving.
“I attended the JES session on ‘Education & Global Mass Incarceration.’ The testimony of the panel attendees helped ground the work of the Petey Greene Program within the criminal-legal system into a broader, global context. One thing I took away was the importance of high-level literacy skills for incarcerated people.”
-Volunteer in MA
In 2024, nearly 500 people participated in our webinars. Of attendees, over 90% report that these events help them understand how to advocate for systemic change.
-Volunteer Tutor in MA
AN UPDATE FROM THE PUTTKAMMER CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE
In January 2024, we launched the Puttkammer Center for Educational Justice, a new division of the Petey Greene Program that brings together research and pilot program development. The Center’s work builds on the Petey Greene Program’s 17-year track record and network of researchers, practitioners, and experts, while foregrounding the voices and experiences of system-impacted people.
Leveraging this evidence-based expertise, the Center serves as a catalyst for research and policy proposals that promote access to quality education behind and beyond bars, while leading the strategic growth of the PGP. The Center identifies and promotes best practices in the field of carceral and reentry education, with a focus on holistic educational programs that address the individual needs of system-impacted learners.
In addition, the Center hosts a national fellowship program prioritizing system-impacted people, who work as researchers and programmatic staff at the Petey Greene Program.
We secured more than a million dollars in funding, including over $600,000 in foundation grants to support research and pilot program development. 2024WASANINCREDIBLEFIRSTYEAR:
We led and evaluated innovative pilot programs testing best practices in reentry education and hands-on STEM instruction for incarcerated youth;
We conducted and published research on blended learning, on the impact of PGP’s tutoring on student confidence and academic achievement, and on narratives of incarceration;
We created and piloted a series of tutor trainings for incarcerated scholars, to support self-organized learning communities inside carceral spaces;
We delivered lectures and professional trainings at conferences and institutions across the country; we also led a series of webinars on the international landscape of incarceration, with panelists from South America, Africa, and Europe;
STAFF SPOTLIGHT: NICOLE DELGADILLO, EVALUATION
AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
In 2024, after three years at the Petey Greene Program Regional Manager of New York to Evaluation and Deve Puttkammer Center for Educational Justice. Having sp implementer, Nicole now brings her unique insight an intersection of evaluation, strategy, and national impa
“My job is a mix of national-level evaluation and regionally-specific research that can ripple outward,” Nicole explains. “I get to work on large-scale surveys o volunteers, partners, and students, while also digging into regional case studies that help us understand what’s working best on the ground.”
In her first year in the role, Nicole spearheaded two standout initiatives: a deep dive into the volunteer experience and a series of case studies on integrating education meaningfully into reentry spaces. “One of th tensions we often see is between career readiness and education,” she shares. “There’s real pressure on stude to get jobs, and sometimes educational goals fall by th wayside. But we’ve been working with partners to des programs that meet both needs so students don’t ha to choose.”
Her work on the volunteer survey was especially fulfilling. Not only did she help design the tool itself, she also led the analysis, uncovering long-sought evidence of the broader impact of volunteering in correctional education. “We’ve always said we wanted our volunteers to become advocates but we’ve never really had more than anecdotes to back that up,” she says. “Now, we have data showing how the Petey Greene Program experience is genuinely shaping how people see the world and how they talk about incarceration and education in their communities.”
“AT THE HEART OF HER WORK IS A CLEAR ETHOS: RESEARCH SHOULD SERVE PEOPLE, NOT STUDY THEM. “I DIDN’T WANT TO WRITE PAPERS THAT SIT ON A DUSTY SHELF,” SHE LAUGHS. “I WANT TO ASK, ‘WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS INFORMATION?’ THAT’S WHAT DRIVES ME.”
One of her personal highlights this year was returning to a facility to help lead an inside tutor training where individuals who are serving longer sentences learn how to support their peers who are beginning scholars. “Any time I get to be in a classroom with students, I feel re-connected to why I do this work,” she says. “They’re brilliant. They’re the whole reason for any of this.”
OUR COLLEGE BRIDGE PROGRAM
How can we help prepare incarcerated learners interested in pursuing higher education to take the next step in their educational journey to access and succeed in college?
Many learners who have a high school diploma or equivalent may need additional support to prepare for college-level success. A recent survey conducted by the PGP and the Coalition for Adult Basic Education (COABE) revealed that prison educators and administrators across the country see a gap between high school equivalency and college: out of 327 respondents, 84 percent indicated that students who had completed the GED were not ready for college.
The PGP’s College Bridge program addresses this gap, preparing students to enroll and succeed in college. We offer semester-long math and writing courses, and we partner with higher education institutions to ensure that our alumni smoothly transition into creditbearing college level courses. The College Bridge program helps incarcerated people acquire the humanities and math skills needed to access post-secondary programs, while fostering the sense of educational self-efficacy and confidence vital to succeed in college and beyond.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: THE COLLEGE BRIDGE PROGRAM AT SCI PHOENIX
Our College Bridge Program addresses a critical gap in the students’ academic preparation, fostering the reading, writing, math, and critical thinking skills that they need to enroll in the degree-granting college in prison program offered by the Villanova Program at SCI Phoenix.
In 2024, we focused on reading and writing skills, with a course that challenged students to engage with texts belonging to a broad range of genres and contexts, from Frederick Douglass’ memoir to essays by Audre Lorde. Progressing through guided exercises, brief writing assignments, and longer papers, students not only developed their literacy skills but also learned how to express their opinions in an organized and persuasive manner, adapting their writing to different contexts and audiences.
THE PROGRAM HAS HAD INCREDIBLE RESULTS: 80% OF THE STUDENTS IN THE INAUGURAL CLASS AT SCI PHOENIX HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY’S DEGREE-GRANTING PROGRAM.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: INSIDE TUTOR TRAINING
Last year, the Puttkamer Center developed a curriculum to provide the same high-quality training and leadership development that the PGP is known for offering its volunteers directly to incarcerated scholars. Through the PGP Inside Tutor Training program, incarcerated scholars receive equivalent training, supervision, and quality wraparound support as traditional PGP tutors.
The PGP Inside Tutor curriculum includes sections on education justice, pedagogical best practices and strategies, educational ethics, and trauma-informed practice. In 2024, we offered Inside Tutor training to scholars at SCI Greene in Pennsylvania in April 2024 and again at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey in July 2024. Between these two pilot offerings, 35 currently incarcerated scholars have completed the Inside Tutor Training program. We received overwhelmingly positive feedback on this tutor training from both participants and facility staff.
IN PRE- AND POST-SURVEY RESPONSES, THE PARTICIPANTS' CONFIDENCE IN ACHIEVING THE GOALS THEY SET FOR THEMSELVES INCREASED BY 31% AFTER THE TRAINING, AND THEIR CONFIDENCE IN SUPPORTING OTHERS IN ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS INCREASED BY 20%
Many of these tutors are now supporting PGP students enrolled in our College Bridge programs, and we have returned to one of the pilot facilities to implement additional tutor training inside. In 2025, we look forward to expanding our support for incarcerated tutors by introducing the Inside Tutor Training at more facilities, developing and deepening our existing training curriculum, and providing additional and ongoing learning opportunities f i d h h l d l d hi i i
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: SPANISH AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING
We are continuously growing and diversifying our program offerings to best meet the needs of system-impacted learners. In 2024, the Petey Greene Program began to map out and pilot programs for students preparing for the GED with tutoring in Spanish and English Language Learning (ELL) support.
Working with Spanish-speaking PGP volunteers in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, we developed a scalable model that we look forward to bringing to other regions.
Further removing barriers to participation in our programs, we’ve translated our materials and forms that we provide to students into Spanish, including our student intake form, student surveys, goal-setting guide and tutoring session plan, and FAQs for students.
We’re wrapping up research and development to provide ELL support to PGP students and ELL pedagogical training to volunteers. These new training models will be incorporated into our training curriculum in the 2025-2026 school year to support volunteers and students.
Stay tuned for further updates on the launch of our original PGP English Language Learner course. Based on our successful College Bridge model, this course designed by PGP staff and delivered by PGP-trained instructors will provide an immersive ELL environment to support students’ progress towards academic and professional goals
INNOVATION NEVER CEASES! WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE THE PGP’S WORK ON LEADING INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN CARCERAL SPACES TO REACH MORE LEARNERS AND SUPPORT THEM TOWARDS THEIR UNIQUE GOALS.
REGIONAL SPOTLIGHTS MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND
A central theme to all of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island team’s work is meeting students wherever they are. At the Boston Pre Release Center, many Spanish-speaking students were struggling with their high school equivalency exams because the classes were not available in their language. “None of the staff there speak Spanish and they had no educational materials in their native language,” shares Division Manager, Azure Mauche. The PGP stepped in, began teaching at least one section in Spanish, and brought in Spanish-speaking tutors to support students’ coursework. The results have been successful: students have shared that this experience has been extremely helpful and bringing them closer to achieving their educational goals. Our partnership with the Department of Youth Services, through which we provide academic support to young people aged 12-21 throughout the state of Massachusetts, continues to deepen. At the end of 2024, a new partnership with Charlestown Adult Education, a full service educational, career, and reentry center, began where PGP tutors support adult learners working towards passing their HiSET exam. Across these programs, the Massachusetts and Rhode Island team worked with 663 students and recruited and placed 245 volunteers.
NEW JERSEY
One of the many highlights for the New Jersey region in 2024 was hiring Audrey Wilson to serve as the state’s Division Manager. Audrey brings a unique perspective and persistent passion to this role as she completed her Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees while incarcerated in New Jersey. With this passion, she put New Jersey in a great position to rebuild and expand many of the partnerships and programs that were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, the New Jersey region reconnected with Rowan University to recruit volunteers in South Jersey. By doubling the number of volunteer placements we had in 2023 for 2024, we brought our programming into South Woods State Prison, New Jersey’s largest correctional facility, and continued to grow in our established programming at FCI Fort Dix, Northern State Prison, East Jersey Prison, and Garden State Correctional Facility. Through this new and expanded programming, we were able to support 223 students in 2024 in their academic journeys with the support from 84 placed volunteers.
NEW YORK
The PGP’s programming in New York is deeply engrained in collaborative communitybased partnerships, bringing the PGP’s flagship high-quality tutoring programming to justice-impacted audiences beyond local jails and prisons. Because of the region’s extensive and engaged connections, in 2024, the NY regional team created a streamlined process for individual referrals for justice-impacted students seeking support – for everything ranging from their GED to higher education to career exploration. Through a partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, the New York region piloted a GED program for system-impacted adults of all ages can earn their high school equivalency degree with the support of PGP volunteers. Petey Greene Program volunteers also plugged into John Jay’s Navigator Program where system-impacted people who are looking to reenter the workforce can improve the social and emotional skills needed to sustain meaningful employment. Finally, in 2024 the New York region emphasized creating better outcomes for students wherever possible. For example, through a long-standing program with Exalt Youth where PGP volunteers support young students with homework, the New York team set up clearer parameters and expectations for the program so both students and volunteers were getting the most out of their time together. Accordingly, there has been a significant boost in the students’ results and the consistency in tutoring. Through these programs, the New York team filled 97 volunteer placements and worked with 239 students.
PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh is the Petey Greene Program’s newest region and as such, experienced growth and new milestones in 2024. We hired Ann Marie Lucas as the region’s Volunteer Engagement Coordinator. One of the year's biggest accomplishments was the initiation of a partnership with Cafe Momentum. Cafe Momentum provides a new and exciting opportunity to engage justice-involved youth (ages 15–19) through a holistic workforce development and education program. In this space, students gain real-world restaurant experience while also participating in career coaching, mentoring, and academic support from Petey Greene volunteers. The Pittsburgh region also launched its first College Bridge course at SCI Greene in the fall with fast success: “Students consistently say how much they enjoy the class and I’ve already seen a massive boost in writing ability, but maybe even more importantly, confidence in learning,“ shares Pittsburgh’s Division Manager Eli Diamant. The region was thrilled to start its first student group at the University of Pittsburgh, which will create a strong pipeline for volunteer recruitment and engagement and deepen campus-community connections in the semesters to come. In 2024, the region worked with 119 students and filled 67 volunteer placements.
PHILADELPHIA
The Philadelphia region of the PGP witnessed an expansive 2024, marked by deepened partnerships and exciting growth. One of the year’s biggest milestones was the growth of services at SCI Chester, where programming reached pre-pandemic numbers and became more inclusive with the launch of GED support in Spanish, empowering learners to prepare for their high school equivalency in their native language. This initiative was co-led by a former volunteer-turned-staff member, PHENND Fellow VISTA Caden Diaz, who saw a need and didn’t hesitate to take the initiative to find a solution. The Philadelphia team also doubled the number of community-based organizations it supports through a longstanding partnership with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. These efforts expanded diversion programming for court-involved youth, including a new partnership with the city’s only diversion provider focused on young women. Similarly, services were expanded at the Federal Detention Center (FDC), where PGP began offering in-class GED support and launched First Step Act Life Skills courses—classes that directly translate into sentence reductions for students. The region also celebrated the graduation of the inaugural cohort of Eastern University degree recipients at Chester, a significant achievement that PGP supported from start to finish through integrated study halls and volunteer facilitation. This milestone, coupled with ongoing College Bridge programming at SCI Phoenix, points to the region’s sustained focus on higher education inside. The Philadelphia team supported 180 students by filling 141 volunteer placements in 2024.
WASHINGTON D.C.
In addition to the Petey Greene Program’s consistent services at the Youth Services Center (YSC) and D.C. Jail, the Washington D.C. team also provides enriching education opportunities beyond the traditional classroom setting. In 2024, two outstanding PGP volunteers innovated a new program, STEM Unbarred, that brings real, hands-on science experiments and demonstrations to youth living in secure facilities at YSC. After returning from a Fulbright during which she developed STEM educational programming for students in Sri Lanka, co-founder Anagha Krishnan signed up to volunteer with the PGP and quickly realized that what she had learned in the field about science education could be applied to system-impacted youth. STEM Unbarred is helping incarcerated youth connect with science, and unlock new avenues for career exploration. In 2024, the PGP was also selected to continue serving as a coordinating entity for out-of-school-time programming for students in the care of the Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services. Through this grant, the PGP partners with community organizations to offer a variety of programs to youth inside, ranging from music production to basketball. “Our students who are in intramurals and extracurriculars perform better academically,” explains Leslie Lewis, the Washington D.C. Regional Manager. “It’s about giving them something they want to do, alongside what they have to do. That’s what gets them through the hard parts.” Through their varied offerings, the D.C. team worked with 777 students and trained and filled 176 volunteer placements.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT SAHIBA TANDON
Sahiba Tandon has been a passionate and dedicated part of the Petey Greene Program in Philadelphia for the entirety of her undergraduate career at Swarthmore College. She has been an inspiring, consistent, and steadfast volunteer, supporting students working toward a GED or Associates Degree at SCI Chester. During the 2024-2025 academic year, Sahiba was chosen to be our Lead Tutor at SCI Chester due to her demonstrated commitment and leadership abilities. She spent the summer semester acting in this capacity as on-site coordinator for 20 total volunteers.
During her time with the PGP, Sahiba demonstrated re students. During her study abroad semester at Oxford leave her long-standing student, Brian, just weeks prior section of the GED prior to his release date. In her abse by saying, “no pressure, but my last tutor Sahiba was to explain these concepts so that I completely unders earned his GED, Sahiba’s joy shone through her words:
“THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST EMAILS I’VE EVER RECEIVED. PLEASE DO SEND MY BEST WISHES TO BRIAN IF YOU STILL HAVE ANY CONTACT. HE REALLY IS SUCH A BRIGHT INDIVIDUAL AND HAS SUCH A GREAT FUTURE OUT THERE FOR HIM. I FEEL SO LUCKY TO HAVE MADE AN IMPACT ON HIS LIFE AS HE DID MINE. I MISS TUTORING MORE THAN ANYTHING!
Because of this commitment to the PGP and its mission and values, Sahiba was selected as the inaugural recipient of the James S. Farrin Volunteer Award. She shared the following reflections upon accepting the award:
“Week after week, I’ve led with my heart, approaching each tutoring session with empathy and care for the people I work with, treating them as if they are family. Throughout my time with the PGP, I’ve shared laughter, encouragement, and moments of struggle with students who, despite the constraints around them, bring so much dedication and resilience to their education. They often teach me more than I could ever teach them. Every hour I’ve spent as a volunteer with the Petey Greene Program has reminded me of the kind of world I want to help create—one where everyone has access to learning, growth, and dignity. Being part of this program in any form is a humbling blessing. I feel like a single piece in a vast, interconnected puzzle, that supports the power of collective action and movement. These experiences have made me a stronger, more passionate leader, driven by a belief in educational justice.”
STUDENT STORY: AISHA
“Working with the Petey Greene Program has truly transformed my academic experience. I came to the Petey Greene Program when I began pursuing my Master in Public Administration. Being back in school was like learning how to swim in the deep end. What started as a necessity getting help to finish my degree turned into an invaluable partnership that has given me the tools, perspective, and confidence to finish strong.
Writing the capstone required to complete my degree was once daunting, but with the unwavering support of my PGP tutor, Zachary, I was able to enjoy the process and feel confident in my writing skills. We met every Wednesday and he helped me not only with editing; he challenged me to think deeper and refine my arguments. When I shared
my first draft with him, admittedly, he ripped it to shreds. The feedback, though tough to hear, was exactly what I needed: he challenged me to make it even better by asking questions that strengthened my research and posed ideas that made my writing even more persuasive.
One of the things I’ll always remember from our sessions is how Zachary explained that no matter how good a writer you are, everyone needs an editor. He shared how even the most brilliant writers like Toni Morrison, whom I admire deeply—had editors who helped refine their work. It was an eye-opening moment for me. The process of editing and revising is not a sign of failure, but a vital part of growth as a writer. In that conversation, I realized that writing is a skill that improves the more you do it, and it’s okay to need feedback from others. That perspective helped me embrace the critique and push myself to improve, rather than getting discouraged.
THIS
PROGRAM ISN’T JUST ABOUT ACADEMICS; IT’S ABOUT EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO SUCCEED AGAINST THE ODDS. IT’S ABOUT MEETING STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE AND PROVIDING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO THRIVE.
The Petey Greene Program’s support has been life-changing. When I started working towards my MPA, I was determined to finish, but unsure how I would balance everything. Life challenges, the pandemic, and financial pressures could have derailed me, but the PGP helped me stay focused and move forward. This program isn’t just about academics; it’s about empowering people to succeed against the odds. It’s about meeting students where they are and providing the support they need to thrive. The work Petey Greene does is something for which I will be forever grateful.”
MEET OUR NEW TRUSTEES
The Petey Greene Program leads with excellence, from each and every volunteer to our Board of Trustees. We are grateful to have the support and guidance of our Board, whose members range from PGP alumni to the organization's founders. In 2025, the Petey Greene Program welcomed two new Trustees: Cheri Syphax and William Achtmeyer.
CHERI SYPHAX
Cheri Syphax is the CEO of Phax Entertainment Group, LLC. and a former Sales and Marketing Executive with more than 30 years of management experience. She holds a Master's Degree in Leadership and Organizational Development. She has also been a member of and volunteered with organizations like Emerge and 100 Black Women, where she worked with future female leaders to help develop social and life skills.
“MY FAMILY HAS A HISTORY OF ACTIVISM FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE PETEY GREENE PROGRAM IS A BEAUTIFUL MARRIAGE OF MY PASSION FOR EDUCATION AND MY MORAL POSITION THAT THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION.”
WILLIAM ACHTMEYER
William Achtmeyer brings three decades of experience in education strategy and consulting to his work with the PGP. He co-founded the firm Parthenon in 1991, and in 1994 became Chairman, CEO, and Managing Partner. In 2014, as a $100mm business with 28 partners, 350 professionals, and six offices globally, Parthenon merged with EY. By 2019 under Achtmeyer’s leadership, EYParthenon was a $2 billion, 500 partner, and 5,000 consultant juggernaut.
“EDUCATION IS THE GATEWAY TO FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY. WHEN I HEARD THE STORY OF THE PETEY GREENE PROGRAM, I WAS INSTANTLY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE AND I AM HONORED TO SERVE ON THE BOARD.”
THE PGP IN THE PRESS
In 2024, we broadened our reach via media placements and podcast interviews with national publications and platforms. This year, we were honored to be selected as a recipient of pro bono services from NextPR, an award-winning public relations firm working to elevate and amplify the mission and work of nonprofits like ours. With their help, we secured more media coverage than ever before, including in national publications and podcast interviews with varied audiences.
OVERCOMING BIASES IN HIRING REENTRY CANDIDATES
Our CEO, Jeffrey Abramowitz, shares his perspective on the biases that employers hold that prevent a staggering 60% of formerly incarcerated people from finding employment upon reentering society. He shares context for what barriers formerly incarcerated job-seekers face, how HR professionals can address or alleviate them, and how Second Chance hiring practices help both the employers and the employees.
VOICES OF STUDENT SUCCESS: A COLLEGE BRIDGE PROGRAM FOR INCARCERATED STUDENTS
Chiara Benetollo, Executive Director of the Puttkammer Center for Educational Justice, and Katherine Meloney, Director of the Villanova Program at SCI Phoenix, joined Voices of Student Success podcast host Ashley Mowreader for a conversation about the PGP’s College Bridge Program and the ways higher education can support justice and learning for incarcerated individuals.
UNLOCKING POTENTIAL
Our CEO continued to position himself as a subject matter expert on why Second Chance hiring policies are so important and fruitful through a published conversation with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Jeff shared his own story navigating the criminal justice system as well as some case studies where hiring formerly incarcerated people greatly benefitted both the company and the workers.
2024 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Alec Decker, President
Jacki Kelly, Vice President
Peter Gates, Treasurer
Jeffrey Abramowitz
Bill Achtmeyer
Beth Brett
OUR STAFF
Cason Crane
Yusuf Dahl
Lee Gladden
David J. Harding
Grace Li
Gabriel Malone-O'Meally
George H. McLaughlin II
Jeffrey Abramowitz, Chief Executive Officer
Charles W. Puttkammer
Cordelia Puttkammer
Richard O. Scribner
Irwin Silverberg
Sixto Sime
Martha S. Staniford
Cheri Syphax
Ray Tebout
Chiara Benetollo, Executive Director of the Puttkammer Center for Educational Justice and Equity
Kaya Ceci, Regional Manager, Philadelphia
Siobhan Cooke, Volunteer Engagement and Organizational Learning Fellow
Nicole Delgadillo, Evaluation and Development Manager
Norma Dhanaraj, Regional Manager, Washington D.C.
Eli Diamant, Division Manager, Pittsburgh
Caden Diaz, PHENND Fellow and Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, Philadelphia
Fiona Flynn, Division Manager, Philadelphia
Sondra Fiorella, Division Manager, Washington D.C.
Sarah Hirshorn, Senior Communications Manager
Colette Johnson, Executive Director of Business Development and Strategy
Anna Kraft, Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager
Timothy Lawrence, Operations & Data Associate and Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, NY
Leslie Lewis, Regional Manager, Washington D.C.
Ann Marie Lucas, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, Pittsburgh
Azure Mauche, Division Manager, Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Nina Mitukiewicz, Division Manager, Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Emma Morrissey, Director of Curriculum and Training
Lynwood Patrick, Director of Finance and Administration
Derek Pieper, Director of Grants
Raymond Rodriguez, Division Manager, Washington D.C.
Charla Saunders, Executive Assistant
Emma Sindelar, Executive Director of Operations
Priyanka Sinha, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, New York
Sherika Stewart-Rivera, Division Manager, New York
Lynne Sullivan, Regional Manager, Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Meg Tavares, Director of Development Operations
Margy Wilcox, Director of Regions
Audrey Wilson, Division Manager, New Jersey
Robert Wright, Division Manager, New York
2024 FINANCIAL REPORT
THANK YOU, DONORS!
Thanks to the generous support of donors like you, we continue to support the educational journeys of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people by providing the high-quality, individualized tutoring and academic support that every learner needs to achieve their educational goals.
$100,000 AND ABOVE
Ascendium Education Group
Cordelia and Charles Puttkammer
$50,000 - $99,000
Cradle to Career Initiative
Educational Ventures
Ichigo Charitable Fund
$10,000 - $49,000
Beveridge Family Foundation, Inc
Boston Office of Returning Citizens
Cabot Family Charitable Trust
Cason Crane
Dylan Todd Simonds Foundation
Epic Charitable Fund
Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation
Gates Family Charitable Fund
Hamilton Family Charitable Trust
John and Margaret Post Foundation
Jacki and Joe Kelly
Charlotte and George McLaughlin
New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance
Patricia Kind Family Foundation
Pershing Square Foundation
Judith and Gerald Porter
Prospect Hill Foundation
Rolander Family Foundation
Romanoff Foundation
Silverberg Family Foundation
Martha Staniford and Matthew Myers
Truist Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999
Bennett Family Foundation
Dustin Brandenburg
Barbara Bromley
Curtis McGraw Foundation
Daisy Fund
Marion DeGroff
Christopher Eisgruber and Lori Martin
Henry E Niles Foundation
Dr Marvin Hoffman
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WHY I DONATE
“Since late 2020 it has been an absolute joy to both volunteer and support The Petey Greene Program through donations and participation in fundraising activities. As both a tutor and College Bridge Writing Instructor at Fort Dix, I was able to witness the lasting and life-changing impact the efforts of PGP have left on the populations they serve. I will never forget attending a PGP graduation ceremony at Rutgers for a student I tutored who completed a degree in Social Work and would now be dedicating his own life to advocating for Justice Impacted populations.”
-AMANDA HARRIS, 2024 DONOR
