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Hudson Link Students Go Back to School
 September means back-to-school season has officially begun! With over 600 students enrolled across five facilities, this year is already off to a busy start.
We at Hudson Link want to wish all of our students the best of luck this semester. Whether they are just beginning their college career, or finishing those final credits before graduation, we know they are heading towards greatness and we are so excited to be a part of that journey.
As part of our back-to-school preparations, Hudson Link teamed up with the J.C. Flowers Foundation and a group of other non-profit organizations to send our community's children back to school prepared for success. Alumni Coordinator Kiki Dunston has been working alongside men at Sing Sing to prepare over 600 brand new backpacks, filled with critical school supplies and treats, to be donated to the children of men and women at Sing Sing, Taconic, and Bedford Correctional Facilities. This project was a massive undertaking - thank you to everyone who donated supplies and time to help make it possible!
Thank you to all of our supporters who make each and every semester possible. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all of you. For updates on the semester and information about any upcoming events, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
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MSNBC Films Historic Town Hall Inside Sing Sing
Earlier this month, MSNBC aired several segments of a unique project targeted at taking a deep dive into the realities of the American criminal justice system. This new series, called "Justice for All," features host Lester Holt interviewing formerly incarcerated men and women, speaking with non-profit and activist organizations, and even spending a night or two in prison!
To help kick off this new segment, MSNBC and Sing Sing Correctional Facility hosted a town hall symposium. This televised event was attended by the biggest names in criminal justice reform including Bryan Stevenson, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, The Vera Institute for Justice, and even world-renowned singer and social justice advocate John Legend.
In the fourth part of the town hall, Lester Holt turned the conversation to reentry and recidivism. Sean Pica, Sing Sing Superintendent Michael Capra, and Hudson Link Alumnus Lawrence Bartley were invited up as the expert panel of speakers. Lawrence and Sean both spoke about the growth of education inside prisons, and the challenges many men face when they return home.
We were honored to be included with such a stellar lineup of attendees, and even more excited to see some of our students interviewed and featured during this groundbreaking piece.
If you would like to see the full town hall special,
part 1,
part 2,
part 3,
part 4, and
part 5 can be found here. Watch NBC for upcoming segments from the "Justice for All" project.
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Rachel Bernard Promoted to
Director of Strategic Initiatives
 Hudson Link is proud to announce that Rachel
Bernard has been promoted to a newly created position: Director of Strategic Initiatives. This new role incorporates policy, advocacy, strategic communication, and statewide and national coalition building.
For over six years Rachel has been running college programs inside New York State correctional facilities.
Her passion, collaborative skills, and experience as an Academic Coordinator in multiple Hudson Link sites over the past two years are not only what make her fit for such a leadership role, but also what makes her a true asset to the team.
We are excited that someone with her expertise will be helping to represent Hudson Link in larger conversations around higher education in prison, and contributing to the growth of our organization and our field. Congratulations Rachel, we can't wait to see what you do in your new role!
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Sean Pica Published by Fox News
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In its 21-year history, Hudson Link has helped more than 700 men and women earn a college diploma, saving New York state taxpayers over $21 million per year." Sean writes, "Let's move away from the tired mentality of seeing prisoners as a punchline and a liability to manage, but instead as men and women with the potential to accomplish great things."
Thank you Sean for writing such a thought-provoking piece, and for encouraging discussion on this vital topic. Be sure to read the full article
here!
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Tune in for Sean Pica's Live Radio Interview!
On Monday, October 1st tune in to Sirius XM 143 hear Executive Director Sean Pica as the featured guest on
Top of Mind with Julie Rose
. Julie Rose is a practiced journalist with a long-standing broadcast career across Utah and North Carolina.
Her show
Top of Mind highlights current events and news stories, and invites guest experts to dive into these issues and explore their roots. Julie has invited Sean to speak on rehabilitation after prison, higher education in prison, his own story, and his work as the Executive Director of Hudson Link.
Be sure to tune into this live radio interview next Monday at 5:20 pm on Sirius XM 143 or on the show's
website.
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