Who We Are
The Tennessee Higher Education Initiative (THEI) disrupts systems of harm and creates opportunities for autonomy and success through education, support, and advocacy with and for justice-impacted individuals.
Our Work Is
Connected
Leverages collaboration and strategic partnerships
Relational
Provides high touch, high quality individualized support
Culture & Community Focused
Works to build an uncommon culture where all stakeholders are valued
Excellent
Uplifts and upholds a high standard
Transformative
Works to mitigate the effects of incarceration
The THEI Approach
Our approach is executed through three strategies:
Educational Programs
THEI coordinates on-site degree-granting college programs leading to associate and bachelor's degrees, for incarcerated individuals in Tennessee prisons. THEI provides hands-on academic support for students and technical assistance support for higher education in prison partners.
Transitional Programs
THEI creates opportunities for autonomy and success through pre and post-release wraparound reentry services. THEI’s support extends beyond education, to address housing, employment, family reunification, mental health, and other critical needs.
Policy & Practice
THEI advocates with and for justice impacted students at the state and federal levels. THEI also works closely with state agencies and community partners to drive a statewide strategy for ensuring equity and excellence in Tennessee’s higher education in prison programs.
Our outcomes are achieved across three spheres:
Among Justice-Impacted People
- The number of people earning college credentials is increased
- The number of people enrolled in postsecondary education programs and receiving essential skill-building is increased
- The number of postsecondary, non-vocational degree-granting programs in Tennessee prisons is increased
- Life satisfaction increases
- Collateral consequences of incarceration are mitigated
- The number of people recidivating is reduced
- The diversity of professional career trajectories is increased
- Individuals experience belonging, community care, and feeling valued
Among State and System Partners
- More resources are allocated to providing high quality higher education programs in prisons
- More resources are allocated to providing high quality reentry support
- Key roadblocks to expanding equity and access for justice impacted people are identified
- Policies acting in opposition to the liberative and transformative power of education are changed
- Standards for measuring quality of postsecondary programming are established and expectations are raised
- Humanizing language is used to refer to justice impacted people
- Systems that promote equity and access to high quality learning opportunities and access to information for incarcerated people are implemented
- Policies imposing collateral consequences for formerly incarcerated people are changed
Among CBOs and Communities
- Awareness about the liberative and transformative power of education is increased
- Humanizing language is used to refer to justice impacted people
- Networks of service providers are expanded
- Organizations are more equipped to connect justice impacted clients to high quality support and care
- Communities are better able to provide incarcerated people with accurate information and resources
- More families impacted by incarceration are supported and connected to community
- Advocacy for issues impacting formerly incarcerated and incarcerated people is increased
Which leads to
Justice impacted people having autonomy and success stronger families. People having access to resources they need to thrive. Fewer people incarcerated. Which ultimately means, Cycles of harm are broken and communities are better, safer and stronger.