Joe Schwartz
Joe Schwartz (he/him) is a teaching assistant and training coach with Temple University’s Inside-Out Training Institute, as well as a reentry strategist with the Liberation Foundation Reentry program. After serving 15 years in prison, he now dedicates himself to initiatives focused on criminal justice reform and expanding educational opportunities.
Joe’s conviction is that all people, regardless of circumstance, deserve access to the transformative power of education. He has recently joined the steering committee of the Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education in Prison where he works to galvanize the collective efforts of colleges and universities to implement educational programs within carceral institutions. Joe believes that education invigorates dignity, humanity, and purpose no matter the circumstance. For the justice impacted, meaningful change is more than a second chance, it is about seizing first-time opportunities.
Report
Since the pandemic, Inside-Out has included dozens of formerly incarcerated Inside-Out alumni in instructor trainings and community workshops. These men and women are referred to as “coaches” in the trainings and “dialogue partners” in the workshops. The goals of this project include: 1) to more fully understand the impact of the coaches / dialogue partners on the training and workshop participants, 2) to more fully examine what these activities mean in the lives of the coaches / dialogue partners, 3) to explore how Inside-Out can expand these and further activities for other men and women who are formerly incarcerated.
The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program® is an innovative educational experience that bridges the gap between campus-based students and incarcerated individuals. Held inside prisons, this semester-long course encourages dialogue across difference, challenging stereotypes and promoting diversity. By fostering deep listening and understanding, Inside-Out inspires participants to create more inclusive spaces in the world.