so much human potential is locked behind
bars or shackled to a criminal record
developing the soft skills that help
people get and keep jobs is simply not
our prisons top priority people could be
practicing for success instead they're languishing
we have the world's largest
incarcerated population and
approximately one in three American
adults has a criminal record after
prison people aren't ready for today's
marketplace and a stigma of a record
locks people out from economic
opportunities that keeps them in poverty
and costs the US economy 87 billion
dollars a year the Prison Fellowship
Academy helps people in prison become
good citizens who can thrive in the
workplace and achieve economic mobility
I would know I'm a graduate because of
the Academy's focus on soft skill and
character development our graduates earn
higher wages and pay more in taxes and
now we are developing a new standard for
success in the prison system that
provides a pathway to opportunity for
millions
we're also spearheading a national
movement for second chances we're
engaging hundreds of partners removing
unnecessary barriers opportunity and
changing how our culture values people
with a criminal record a quarter of
prison fellowship's field staff are like
me
formerly incarcerated so we understand
the challenge and we understand the
difference it makes when someone finally
gets that second chance
