John Carroll University Inside-Out Course

After a successful pilot semester at the Northeast Reintegration Center (NeRC) in Cleveland, John Carroll University has broadened its educational partnership with the institution. Starting with the 2023-2024 academic year, the University has added a second course to its offerings at the minimum-security women’s facility and begun to extend co-curricular programing opportunities to enrich the comprehensive educational experience available to learners at NeRC.

Last fall, over 100 women at the Northeast Reintegration Center (NeRC) attended a special speaker event and film screening of the award-winning 2022 documentary “26.2 to Life.” This initiative, inspired by discussions in John Carroll classes at NeRC, and further supported by the Cleveland International Film Festival and the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival, succeeded in bringing the film’s director Christine Yoo and one of the leading subjects, Markelle Taylor, known affectionately as “Markelle the Gazelle,” directly to NeRC. The documentary, made available to the entire NeRC community through the facility’s video streaming network, chronicles the inspiring journey of Taylor and other men incarcerated at California’s San Quentin Prison as they trained for a marathon by regularly running 105 laps around the prison yard. It also follows Taylor’s dream of participating in the Boston Marathon following his release. Taylor’s remarks at NeRC served as a powerful call to action, encouraging those in attendance to embrace their own journeys of change, armed with the belief that their futures are not defined by their pasts, while acknowledging the enduring challenges he still navigates daily.

Plans for additional co-curricular programming have been developed by students themselves. Following an “inside-out” model, JCU’s classes bring together learners from both the NeRC facility and campus-based university students who make weekly trips to the site. In the fall term, student teams developed proposals to address social issues either within NeRC or the broader John Carroll university community. Choosing to address the common issue of social isolation, two student proposals for future development — the establishment of a book club and an asynchronous, correspondence-based initiative, designed to encourage shared personal discernment.

This semester, 10 “inside” students and 13 “outside” students are participating in a new women’s history course at NeRC developed in collaboration with the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Program and the Department of History. The course examines first-hand historical accounts written by women and culminates in students crafting their own autobiographical essays. Father Thomas Curran, SJ, the director of the Jesuit Prison Education Network (JPEN), will attend the class’s closing ceremony to hear student voices and represent JPEN's commitment to educational transformation as part of an international, Jesuit-led initiative. This summer, JCU students and faculty will participate alongside Fr. Curran and leaders from other Catholic Jesuit Universities on a panel at the Faith, Justice & Reconciliation Assembly, an event attended by campus leaders from all 28 institutions of Jesuit higher education across the United States.

Gathered below are anonymous perspectives from students partaking in John Carroll University (JCU) Inside-Out Prison Exchange program from the fall of 2023. The comments include those from the "inside" (incarcerated) and the "outside" (non-incarcerated) students with in the program.

Inside Student Comments

“First, I would like to thank everyone who put this class together. Working with you guys has been so refreshing. The students are like a breath of fresh air in this stagnant environment. They are so full of ideas, life, and dreams ... they are bright lights in our dim world." ... "this class really made me ponder how can I make my mark in the world, what kind of footsteps I am going to leave for my children to follow."

This class got me "... to realize that we as prisoners are still human."

"This class was a very great thing for me. It brought me self-pride up, my self-esteem up and has made me feel not just smarter but whole again, and to feel human again. And to not look down on myself as just a criminal or a nobody."

"The most inspiring moment of the course was seeing people from the outside that didn't look at me as less than, as unimportant, or as a criminal."

"I am deeply moved and inspired by this class."

The course "made me want to give people a second chance once I get out. I (now) feel there are still good people out in the world."

"I absolutely loved this experience, despite being an inside student. This class gave me more confidence in my abilities to voice my opinions. The greatest lesson I've taken from this class is my role in social responsibilities."

"When I was in school I did not have much drive for learning. I never really believed in myself and I had no one to push me. In this class I was so interested in learning and completing my coursework. It was important to me and I was very determined to complete it." 

"After reading all three books, I realize that I want a better life for myself, my kids, and my family, to be viewed as a woman, mother, and a positive productive member of society, not a number, an inmate, or someone who is looked at differently."

Outside Student Comments

“I have begun to realize that the education we receive in (the prison) is unlike any other JCU classroom education and I have come to understand the benefits of that … I am walking away with an even greater sense of empathy, compassion, and awareness that may not necessarily be possible by simply sitting in a JCU classroom … having a chance to change learning environments truly makes a world of difference, especially when learning and discussing social issues such as our criminal justice system … I found I can be comfortable in the uncomfortable."

In discussing the life situations of the Inside students, one Outside student wrote “This class made me realize that life can be a bit like playing poker when you opponent has access to all the wild cards. Your chances of success are slim and none … if I took one thing from this class, it is that I clearly need to do something that will have a positive impact.” 

“I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of Inside-Out, it was a unique experience unlike any class I have taken. While I have been told about social justice in other classes, actually hearing about how things are by the people who experience them, especially those in prison, has been far more impactful than anything those other classes have conjured up. It has gotten me thinking more about some of the issues surrounding prisons, their treatment of prisoners, and how clunky the justice system can be.”

“I feel profoundly grateful for the privilege of participating in this course … This course has broadened my intellectual horizons to encounter perspectives and ideas that I may not have come across otherwise … The diverse perspectives held by the Inside and Outside students is what drove me to think more profoundly about the social problems emphasized in the books. These women exposed me to perspectives that I would not have considered otherwise. The most effective way to learn about social injustices is to have direct contact with those facing these injustices. … This course has been transformative, significantly shaping my personal growth and broadening my perspective on education and social justice issues.”

This class “has opened my eyes to many of the experiences these women have faced … Education has the ability to empower, create vulnerabilities, and bring people together. This class did all three … The sharing of our stories creates a common humanity that is essential to social change … The connections that I built in this class are connections that I will cherish for the rest of my life.” 

“The experience of attending a class in a women’s prison influenced my perception of education and social justice in that I have not only realized the empowering nature of education, but through this education, I have realized my own capacity for change … Without the education I received from the Inside-Out program, my confidence in the face of social injustice would have remained docile.”

“Inside-Out has been an impactful and once in a lifetime opportunity in which I have been able to connect with a group of people who are often stigmatized by the average American … I believe the most important thing I learned was education is the key to social change … As a result, I have gained a new-found passion as it relates to the social justice issues surrounding our corrections and criminal justice system … Overall, this class provided me with valuable information and experiences that will allow me to educate others in hopes of breaking stereotypes surrounding this vulnerable population.“

“It opened my eyes to the very desperate need for providing educational opportunities to women and girls who exist in hardship, reaching them through community or other methods of engagement … Providing opportunities and guidance for women and girls to take ownership of their choices and lives is key to empowerment … It reaffirmed my belief that many hands make light work. Meaning, it is critical for us as a society, as women in particular to come together and support each other … With that being said, I am in awe of each and every one of these women – it reaffirms that women can go through difficult things, and still have the strength and emotional capacity to bring themselves to a better place and do what must be done.”

“While her story inspired me, it made my heart ache because I knew her story was not unique. Sure, people make mistakes all the time. But the consequences that come with having a criminal record in the process of re-entry can be detrimental. As I cried in the comfort of my home later that evening, all I could do was pray for the women we had met … Getting to know the women on a personal level inside of the prison stripped away any fear I previously held … They are regular people that are too often stereotyped into monsters … I am more motivated then ever to advocate for justice, especially on a legal level to support policies that help formerly incarcerated individuals become re-integrated into society."