Partner Program Impact

Transforming lives through education across Florida's correctional institutions

Data reflects activity since Fall 2024

Exchange for Change (E4C)
Serving 7 institutions statewide
655
Students Served
+33% from 2024
925
Certificates
73
Courses Offered
5
Graduations
Key Activities
  • 20 prison visits conducted in 2025
  • Co-hosted event with Florida Cares
  • Participated in multiple advocacy panels
Expanded from 493 to 655 students in one year—the largest single-year growth in program history
Florida Prison Education Project
UCF-based program at 4 institutions
165
Certificates
4
Institutions
Locations Served
  • Central Florida Reception Center
  • Lake Correctional Institution
  • Orlando Work Release Center
  • Polk Correctional Institution
Community Engagement
  • Co-hosted FCHEP Symposium
  • Dr. Akela Reason book talk
  • Podcast "The Unheard Society" at 3 venues
  • UCF freshman orientation showcases
Creating pathways to UCF degrees while building public awareness through storytelling and advocacy
Institute for Educational Empowerment
Degree-granting program at 2 locations
70
Current Students
15
Degrees Awarded
12-17
Weekly Classes
50
May 2026 Grads
Academic Achievements
  • 12 Bachelor's degrees (July 2025)
  • 3 Associate's degrees (July 2025)
  • Added 20-student cohort in August 2025
  • Planning 2 new cohorts by August 2026
On track to graduate 50 students in May 2026—demonstrating unprecedented scale in prison higher education
Stetson CEP
Community Education Project at Tomoka CI
30
Students Enrolled
+36% growth
3
Successful Reentries
5-6
Courses Planned
2
Publications
Academic Excellence
  • Credit-bearing Stetson University courses
  • Published academic paper (co-authored)
  • Conference presentations nationwide
  • Two in-house creative publications in progress
Entrepreneurship Focus
  • Biweekly Zoom workshops with case studies
  • Justice-impacted business owner speakers
  • Desmond Meade guest talk partnership
Largest growth phase in program history—from 22 to 30 students while maintaining academic rigor and research excellence
FSU/FDC Art Therapy
Serving 12 institutions across Florida
375
Students Served
3,018
Service Hours
12
Institutions
4
Art Exhibitions
Institutional Impact
  • Documented increases in program attendance
  • Significant reductions in incident reports
  • Improved engagement and behavior outcomes
  • Madison Arts: 45-50 participants in 2025
Leadership & Advocacy
  • 3 national keynote addresses
  • 3 national conference presentations
  • 2 regional symposium papers
  • Multiple online university lectures
Measurably reducing institutional incidents while providing therapeutic support—proving art transforms behavior and wellbeing