Free to Learn
SF’s Free to Learn initiatives are supported by a Florida Humanities Greater Good: Humanities in Academia Grant for SF’s project Humanities Behind & Beyond Bars. Project initiatives include a podcast series, Free to Learn: Education In and Out of Prison, two Ethics Slams to engage both the SF campus and broader Gainesville community in constructive dialogue about incarceration’s ethical, humanitarian dimensions, and a Spring Symposium, Unlocking Purpose and Potential, which will provide a platform for sharing stories and information, considering the role that education can play in breaking the cycle of incarceration, and exploring steps that we as individuals, and as a collective college community, can take to provide opportunities and a community of care for our citizens who are impacted by incarceration.
The aim of this project and its initiatives is (1) to increase public understanding of incarceration in Florida, its impact on our communities, and the role that education can play in reducing rates of recidivism and promoting safer, stronger communities; (2) to raise the voices of current and formerly incarcerated individuals (especially current and former SF students with carceral experience) to help inform steps SF can take to support this segment of their student population; and (3) to shine a spotlight on the obstacles faced by those with carceral experience in gaining access to education and resources that support their successful re-entry into the community post-incarceration.
Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities
(Opens in new window) with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities
(Opens in new window). Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Episodes
10 episodes
Learning to Belong with Romarilyn Ralston
Romarilyn Ralston is a nationally recognized leader in supporting students with carceral experience. She is currently the executive director of Project Rebound at California State University Fullerton. It was her work with Project Rebound that ...
Learning to Belong
Over the past couple of months we have been sharing the stories of current and former Santa Fe students with carceral experience. During our last podcast we featured a discussion with administrators, staff, and faculty at Santa Fe. Today, we wa...
Learning to Help
Over the last few weeks we’ve been talking to formerly incarcerated students in an effort to better understand their experience--the obstacles they face, and the keys to their success. Today we’re going to focus on the institutional perspective...
Learning to Make a Difference Part 2
We’re continuing our conversation with Adrian Price. Adrian’s progress in higher education has been the result of a combination of determination, optimism, and luck. His story underlines the role that entire communities play when it comes to su...
Learning to Make a Difference
Adrian Price, a student at Santa Fe College and member of the justice club, has been a force of nature. This podcast is, in large part, the product of his desire to shine a spotlight on the needs of formerly incarcerated students. Over ...
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Learning to Heal
For some of us, learning can open our eyes to the suffering of others. Education can be a way of healing and a way to help others heal from the trauma in their lives. Today we’re going to be talking with Angie Dougherty who is currently pursuin...
Whatever It Takes part 2
When a person understands what education can do for them, when they understand the opportunities it opens and its power to change lives, they will move heaven and earth to be able to pursue it. In this episode, we continue our conversation with...
Whatever It Takes part 1
When a person understands what education can do for them, when they understand the opportunities it opens, and its power to change lives, they will move heaven and earth to be able to pursue it. In this episode, we’ll be talking with John Wise ...
Securing the Future part 2
Welcome to Free to Learn, a podcast exploring the stories of formerly incarcerated college students. My name is Jason Frank. I'm an Instructional Designer at Santa Fe College, and I'm interested in better understanding how we can create a learn...
