When I recently read the headline "Enlivened and Encouraged" in an another organization's e-news*, I felt these were the perfect words to describe the impact of a new development here at Bridges To Life. As COVID-19 continues to prevent us from entering prisons, we were inspired to offer a self-study version of our program that inmates can do on their own as we wait for the current restrictions to be lifted.
While missing the benefits of interacting with BTL volunteers, inmate participants can still read the BTL material, follow the curriculum, complete the homework assignments, and watch video recordings of our crime victim speakers. In this way, BTL can enliven and encourage those who are, for now, so completely cut off from the world.
Almost 4,000 men and women in over 60 facilities have enrolled in our Self-Study program since August, and we are already hearing positive feedback from prison management and participants, like this note:
"Thank you for your time and for finding a way for us to still complete the Bridges To Life program. This course has made me face many subjects and thoughts that I will carry for a lifetime. I am thankful for having something to help me grow during this Covid time. I believe this course has equipped me with skills that will really benefit both present and future relationships. Thank you for not giving up on me!" --a Cole Unit inmate
Bridges To Life will never give up on our mission of offering the opportunity for incarcerated men and women to learn, change, and transform their lives.
