From Prison Cells to PhD

06/05/2026

Some months are about milestones. Others are about momentum.

This month's newsletter is about what happens when people, institutions, and communities move forward together.

Across the country, we're seeing scholars earn degrees, leaders step into new roles, advocates reshape systems, and communities create opportunities that didn't exist before. None of it happens alone. Progress grows when we invest in each other.

That's the spirit behind this month's theme: Amplify. Unite. Create.

Together, we're building pathways where education, leadership, and lived experience become catalysts for lasting change.

📖 Read the June newsletter: https://canva.link/2irtnqup80t77r3

06/04/2026

Prison to University: My Journey Back to Education

Facing the odds, a business owner pursued education after prison, earning a trade and then gaining acceptance to both Morehouse School of Medicine and Mercy University. Now pursuing a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice Leadership, this journey is a testament to unwavering determination and the power of support systems.

06/04/2026

What does incarceration cost a family?

Sometimes it looks like memorizing visitation rules.
Sometimes it looks like answering every phone call no matter the hour.
Sometimes it looks like quietly loving someone the world already decided to give up on.

Mackenzie Guirsch’s story about her sister Lisa reminds us that justice-impacted families carry entire worlds of strength, grief, loyalty, and hope that too often go unseen.

At P2P, we know education changes lives — but this story also reminds us that community, family, and human connection are part of that transformation too.

“The Other Side of the Sentence” is powerful, painful, funny, and deeply human. Read it here: https://conta.cc/4vngmEY

06/04/2026

This is how we keep the work moving—by making sure the voices closest to the experience are leading the conversation.

The Call for Proposals for ISC 2026 is officially open. This year’s theme, Learning in Motion, is exactly what we see every day—growth that doesn’t stop, even in the toughest conditions.

If you’re currently inside or an alum of a higher education in prison program, this is your space to present, create, and contribute. Scholars. Artists. Builders. Your voice matters here.

Deadline: July 12
Let’s show what learning in motion really looks like.

https://conta.cc/4cDgJEX

06/03/2026

At P2P, we’ve learned that when opportunity meets community, potential doesn’t just survive—it thrives.

This month, we celebrate Troy Carr, who embodies that spirit:

“I can talk at length about how much I love this program! From the first invitation, I looked forward to participating every weekend. What I love most is the wide spectrum of people—all justice-impacted—coming together to support personal and professional growth. This is exactly the community I’ve been looking for, and I’m grateful to be welcomed and included. I can’t wait to continue contributing, mentoring, and growing with this organization.”

From founding Steel Man Resumes and The Midnight Garden, to building AI tools that empower justice-impacted individuals, Troy is proof that resilience, leadership, and community create real change.

💙 Give Troy a 👏 and help us celebrate his impact!

Join our next cohort: https://conta.cc/4al0pWY

06/02/2026

Education Over Incarceration: Second Chances Matter

A simple question reveals a universal truth: many have broken the law. But does a past mistake define a future? Formerly incarcerated individuals deserve equal opportunities, especially education, which drastically reduces recidivism. Education over incarceration.

06/02/2026

This is why we do the work.

When readers like Brian M. share how Breaking Chains, Building Futures helped them navigate struggle, reclaim hope, and see possibility differently—that’s bigger than a book review. That’s community in motion.

At P2P, we believe lived experience carries wisdom. We believe people closest to the problem are often closest to the solution. And we believe transformation happens when people are given opportunity, support, and the space to rebuild forward.

This book reflects that spirit. It was built from real stories, real barriers, real resilience, and real victories.

To everyone who has read, shared, supported, or seen themselves in these pages: thank you for helping build a future where redemption is not rare—it’s expected.

The journey continues. Together.

Grab your copy here: https://conta.cc/4wFs1Av

06/01/2026

We love stories about Stanley Andrisse being share! What is your favorite part of his story?

We may be biased, but we love his Prison-to-professional cohorts..

Stanley Andrisse became involved in drug dealing during his younger years and eventually received prison sentences. At one point, he believed his life would never improve.

While in prison, he discovered education and developed a passion for science. He studied intensely and refused to give up on changing his future. After his release, he continued his education with determination.

Stanley later became a scientist, professor, and speaker who encourages young people to avoid crime and focus on education. His transformation became an inspiring example of perseverance.

06/01/2026

There are people who speak about change… and there are people who help carry it every single day.

Mancy Thompson is one of those people.

As Program Director for From Prison Cells to PhD, Mancy has become a steady force behind the growth of our Prison to Professionals cohorts. Long before sessions begin and long after they end, he is there—guiding scholars, supporting instructors, solving problems, and helping create the kind of environment where transformation becomes possible.

What makes his leadership powerful is not just the work ethic. It is the belief behind it. Mancy understands that when people are given structure, support, and community, they rise. He understands that education is not just about information—it is about restoration, dignity, and purpose.

I have watched him pour himself into this mission because he believes in people, especially those society too often overlooks.

That kind of leadership matters.

And at P2P, we are better because of it.

Learn more about our Prison to Professionals cohorts:
🔗 https://conta.cc/4al0pWY

05/29/2026

This Is What Freedom Looks Like

Some moments don’t need narration—they just need to be witnessed.
A book gets signed.
A story gets held.
And then something unexpected happens…
Joy shows up. Not planned. Not staged. Just real.
This is what it looks like when lived experience turns into something you can touch—and then dance with.
Not every chapter in this work is heavy. Some of them are light enough to move you.
And sometimes, that’s the point.