The walls designed to separate us became the foundation of what we built together.
An auspicious beginning…
My time in Rising Hope has been the best combination of academic and social experience I have ever gone through, and it greatly influenced my decision to begin serving the Sing Sing population as a leader in the Alternatives to Violence support group, peer counselor in the AIDS program, and editor of the facility newspaper. I completed my bachelor’s degree and attained my Masters of Professional Studies from New York Theological Seminary.
— Johnny Conyers
Meeting the challenge…
The most significant contribution I received from Rising Hope was the challenge that it posed. Before Rising Hope I saw little hope and lacked motivation. I now see purpose and meaning in even the small things in life. I can indeed make a difference, not just in my life but the lives of others as well, and this gives me the energy and motivation to keep on keeping on.
— Luis Vega
Brightening my vision…
Participating in Rising Hope was inspiring and fulfilling. It was a spiritual and academic challenge that opened my mind, strengthened my Rastafarian faith, and brightened my vision. My outlook and my approach to life has matured more than ever before, helping me to understand that I am an asset, not a liability, to my people and community. We are not mere convicts, but we are God’s children who made terrible mistakes we are paying for with our lives.
— Desmond W.
Answering the call…
After years of wrestling with my theology, I felt compelled to enroll in the Rising Hope program offered at Woodbourne. Through this unique academic-theological exchange, I learned that I had a calling on my life. Social Ministry starts with an understanding of the human condition, and then progresses onward toward accepting a willingness to assist others who are in need of human services. God took me on this journey and kept me humble for this purpose.
— Kenneth Inniss
Sharing tears of laughter…
In Rising Hope’s ministry class, a religious course I never imagined myself taking, I bonded with my classmates and civilian staff, through prayer and intense study. Most days we traveled widely – by discussing cultures, religions, and current and historical events. Some of those discussions ignited heated debates, and tears of laughter. We all hold fond memories of a class that came together, going out as a family.
— George “Frenchy” Blake ‘08
Learning self-forgiveness…
The greatest thing I’ve learned while being in prison and in this course is self-forgiveness and how to look into myself before I can critique others or lend my hand to someone in need.
— James J.
A spiritual phenomenon…
Rising Hope is more than an educational service, it is a spiritual phenomenon that inspires hope as it gives new life and purpose through the awakening of the potential that was dormant inside myself and others like me. This program has taught me the value of human commitment to one another as we look beyond our differences and see our similarities.
– Jerry Pitts
A success story…
I bombed out on one course and had to take the whole program over again. I humbled myself by waiting a year. I wanted to get my head on straight and my heart into the subject. I went with the right attitude and became Valedictorian, the oldest man to graduate from the program at sixty years old. My family was so proud of me. That to me is my greatest achievement.
– Nurridin Khabir
Summoned to grow…
I don’t know how to describe the treasures I acquired in Rising Hope. I came into this program with distorted, preconceived notions. I thought I’d be able to literally walk through the door and obtain a diploma with little or no work. My, my, was I proven wrong. I worked vigorously to stay afloat. I was summoned to…grow. Hard work has become my Shangri La.
— J. Dove
More than going home…
I learned that I have the ability to apply myself and go after a goal, such as higher education. It has opened my mind to go beyond that of just wanting to go home. I now know what I want to do once I am released from prison.
— Walden Anderson
A presence is my life…
I believe that most of what I do now is guided by God working in my life. At first I took sole credit for the changes I made in my life, but through this course I’ve learned so much more about God than I ever knew and I can now see how his presence in my life has impacted my life. I now have a different idea of what success is, and what I need to do to be successful.
— Jeffrey Keys
Fellowship and community…
I now believe that God determines how I see people and interact with them. Fellowship is something that I never really paid too much attention to in the past. I learned that it is important to find and share with people who love God and can help me to learn more about God. Looking at how I acted in my community, causing trouble or adding to it, I see that I was helping to destroy it. I’d like to be part of building up the community where I live.
— Juan Altamonte
The politics of compassion…
I entered Rising Hope with only college credits on my mind. Instead I am aiding myself to a bright future that will keep me out of the prison system. I would enjoy being a citizen that uses the politics of compassion to decrease the margin between the middle class and the wealthy. I would not have thought this way had it not been for Rising Hope.
— Brian Blackman
Leading the way for others…
Rising Hope has changed my way of looking at life. I no longer see life as a place which I am just passing through. I understand that while passing through this life I can stop and make changes for those who will follow behind me.
— Ronnie Y.
A successful future…
During our graduation ceremony a prison official made some insightful comments at the podium in reference to me. I too believe as she stated, “I did not choose to change the way that I looked at him; he made me look at him differently and I thank programs like Rising Hope for making a difference in the men’s lives. I am not surprised to see this gentleman sitting among the graduates here today, and I will not be surprised at his success in the future.”
— Kevin “Renny” Smith
Prison into university…
Max Weber said: “A person can only succeed if he or she recognizes the demon who holds the fiber of his or her very life.” My demon was inferiority. God gets all the glory and the faculty of Rising Hope gets my deepest reverence as each of you became a light that reached into my darkness to show me hope. God took what was evil and turned it to the good. He took my mind out of prison as He turned this prison into a university.
– Jerry Pitts
We are one body…
Should Jew love only Jew, Christian only Christian, Muslim only Muslim? The Bible, in fact, urges Christians to increase “in love to one another and to all” (1 Thessalonians 3:12, 5:15). How different are we? Do we not breathe the same air, feel the same sunshine on our faces and when it rains does it not fall on all? Rising Hope teaches this: that those who appreciate God and his purposes are one body.
— Tim M.
Knowledge gained anew…
I’m learning things that I thought I already knew.
— Anonymous
Finding the right lane…
Before Rising Hope I had faith in God, but God was somewhat elusive. I was on a spiritual highway, going 110 mph. I didn’t know where I was headed, the gas gauge read empty, I was missing the exits and not seeing any signposts. I’m not yet off the highway, but I’ve slowed down, and I see glimmers of hope. I left the left lane for the exit that’s going to bring me concord and tranquility. The signs are beginning to be clearer now. And I want to follow God.
— A. Duran
A forever experience…
In Rising Hope I felt joy as I learned about the history of Christianity, ethics, homiletics, and counseling and therapy. It brought things out of me that I did not know existed. I began to see religion in a different light, and to not be so judgmental towards other religions. When we started some individuals were selfish, headstrong, straight-laced or had no religious preference. I witnessed the change in my brothers as the year progressed. To see such a thing happen in this hostile environment is unheard of. I know this experience will live with me forever.
— Clinton Williams, Jr.
Practicing new behaviors…
My behavior has definitely changed a lot. I behave like a counselor whenever I get a chance to counsel somebody. Sometimes I behave like a philosopher, trying to figure out what is morally good and what is morally evil. My relationship with my family is also better than before. They always loved me and wanted for me to achieve my education, so I am making them happy.
— Prateek S.
Revealing myself…
Pulling a trigger is easy. You don’t have to think real hard or be brave to do it – most of the time you don’t even have to look somebody in the face. You just squeeze your finger and believe you have the power, but you really don’t. You just got a gun. It’s different when you gotta get up in front of other people and talk, like for a class presentation. You gotta look other people in the face to do that and think in front of them. You gotta expose yourself mentally and wonder if you’re doing it right, or if people think you’re stupid. That’s way more terrifying than the streets.
– Anonymous
A new way of seeing others…
At the beginning of the class you explained to us that we all have our own glasses that we look through and judge everything we see. I really did not understand what you meant by it. Now I know, because I have caught myself doing things that are not Christian and saved, I looked down on people of other faiths. This is in contradiction to what Jesus taught in Scripture. Now I serve my neighbors with compassion and with a loving relationship with God in the here and now.
— R. Rodriguez
Moving forward in good works…
My Islamic thinking and beliefs have not changed, but Rising Hope has allowed me to grow. I have learned to respect opinions outside of Islam and also to come to common terms with people of other faiths which is a sign of growth. Allah knows best because He tells us in the Quran that He has given everyone a book and a way, that we should all move forward in good works, and that to Him is our return.
— Wade Frazier
New discipline and insight…
The most important things I’ve learned in Rising Hope are discipline, a better knowledge of religion and how it affects different groups of people, the importance of studying, and overall a clear understanding of the power of God. I’ve learned through gaining knowledge of God to have patience and to not turn away from what I truly know to be best for me.
— Bernard Freeman
Changing in community…
Rising Hope changed me. In the beginning, I often became bored with the material until I began to notice the transformation taking place among my classmates, and even myself. We became different people in room 221, where the facades of the yard weren’t present. We created a community of 16 people who would have normally never bonded with each other. The experience opened my eyes to the positive presence in all of us. There is good in us.
— Justin Hightower
An obligation to serve…
The most important way my life changed was by the volunteer professors. In their faces, voices, and actions, I saw, heard, and experienced God. It instilled within me an obligation to serve, and to help make a difference in the lives of others, because I learned that is what Jesus did. These professors also helped me to adopt the attitude of doing my best in every aspect of my life.
— James A. Russell
Finding my soul…
From what I learned in Rising Hope, my whole outlook on God has changed. I now know that God is a part of me, the One who has been with me during the time of my loneliness and despair. I realized that I needed to learn the hard way how much God loves me. I started to feel good about the person I was becoming. I had found my soul, and it is a feeling that is unexplainable, it is just pure bliss!!!!
— Samuel Elliot
Being born again…
I personally believe that there is no greater investment a person can make than to invest in another human being’s life. Rising Hope invests in the lives of human beings that have been written off. It is an integral building block for men in prison who wish to be born again, and lead new lives.
— Darryl D’Ajani Butler, Board Member
New opportunities…
After I participated in college level courses in Rising Hope, I received my associates’ degree and now I’m finally presented with the opportunity to attempt completion of my undergraduate degree in Humanities and Social Science. Where I used to disregard the feelings of others, I now look for opportunities to go out of the way to lend a helping hand.
— G. Lionell “Will” Williams
A deeper faith…
My participation in the program was and is a blessing. It required me to exercise self-discipline and served as a reminder that hard work breeds a well-appreciated sense of accomplishment. As far as my faith and beliefs are concerned, they were tried, tested, revamped, and reinforced. In other words, my faith and beliefs were taken to a deeper level where I found a common ground with others, rather than merely allowing our differences to prevent cooperation.
— Anthony Knight
Bridging differences…
In Rising Hope I realized that we, as a society, have a long way to go in order to live righteously and compassionately. How I’ll use this in the future is to work on doing what I can to extend my hand to my fellow man and be more compassionate.
— Malcolm Baptiste
Responsibility…
I learned a great deal of responsibility and patience in Rising Hope.
— Damon Warren
Finding a treasure…
I have decided to start my reflections from 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 “Treasures in Clay Jars.” I do believe I have found Treasure within this clay jar of mine, and I can truly say that it has been unveiled to me, at least in part, by my work in Rising Hope.
— Mike S.
The answer to violence…
Violence is not the answer to solving problems. Violence only brings more violence. I learned that forgiving someone is the right thing to do, because to withhold it only breeds hate inside of you and doesn’t allow you to grow. Rising Hope has opened my eyes and heart as well as my mind to others’ feelings and beliefs and has been a positive move that I am very thankful for.
— Sylvester D.
A bigger, better Me…
“WHO ARE YOU to ask me how I’m doing, and why should I tell you? Why should I tell you that I’m hurting inside? … That I fight back tears, tears that attempt to surface during the strongest times. What I need is to be forgiven for all my sins. Who do I turn to, and where is the truth? I’m caring, loving, thoughtful, pleasant and happy. Happy because I ripped the old me into pieces and with the help of a Rising Hope, I’m building a newer, bigger, better Me; a real man.
Anonymous
Developing character …
I had the opportunity to attend college prior to coming to prison, and so I was already familiar with the many advantages education offers. What I was not familiar with was the kind of investment in character development that was a focal point of the Program. It was one of the most formative and significant periods of my adult life.
— Gregory Frederick
Respecting differences…
I have learned that I can achieve positive things by applying myself if I want. Also I have learned to understand and even respect other individual faiths, which enables me to now be capable of communicating with other people of different races and creeds with no prejudicial opinions.
— Jonathan M.
Helping my neighbor…
I was giving assignments to the guy in the cell next to me. I had him read about Jonah. The reason why I told him to read Jonah was his belief that he was ignoring signals from God to change his life around. That’s when I remembered your class. So, I had him read Jonah and showed him that no matter how he tried, he couldn’t escape God’s call.
— Joe S.
A successful future…
During our graduation ceremony a prison official made some insightful comments at the podium in reference to me. I too believe as she stated, “I did not choose to change the way that I looked at him; he made me look at him differently and I thank programs like Rising Hope for making a difference in the men’s lives. I am not surprised to see this gentleman sitting among the graduates here today, and I will not be surprised at his success in the future.”
— Kevin “Renny” Smith
Seeing what is possible…
Participating in Rising Hope has been an enlightening experience that I do not think I would have found anywhere else. It was a gift of sight, for metaphorically I was living in the land of the blind. It caused me to look inside myself and examine my sense of forgiveness, culpability and accountability for my actions past and present and to change my outlook of what is possible.
— Rory Anderson
Cultivating my potential…
Rising Hope has allowed me to look within myself and has cultivated my potential as a human being. I am indebted to you all and plan to repay by serving as an example of what education can do in a person’s life.
–Juan G.
Finding self-forgiveness…
The greatest thing I’ve learned while being in prison and in this course is self-forgiveness and how to look into myself before I can critique others or lend my hand to someone in need.
— James J.
There is hope…
As a Muslim, this Christian-based program has shown me that there is hope for the religions of the world to work together.
– Mark Garroway
A Beacon of Hope…
“We become a beacon of Hope that extends itself into the storms in other people’s lives. We become practitioners of the Word, and therefore examples of strength. We expand ourselves beyond our individual needs into the pool of humanity. This is the message of compassion, the wisdom to love one another. By doing so we nurture a greatness present within us.”
— Jah Prince
Today, and Tomorrow
Today I stand at the top of that mountain
Gazing down at the vast greatness of the world below
A maelstrom of emotions overcome me
I realize it was not the voices that kept me down
But it was myself
And never will I let myself be self defeated again
I know the ways that I have traveled
I remember the emotions that I felt
And as I look to the spot where I started
I recall where I had been and how much I have changed
How much I have grown
How much I have endured
Never to look at life the same again
Never to stop holding on to the things which I hold dear
I realize that there are other mountains in my life that need to be overcome
I believe I have the strength, courage, and heart to overcome them
Tomorrow is just another day for some
But to me it is another chance
To change the impossible
To fix the broken
To heal the wounds
To mend the hearts
I know where the winds are taking me these days
And I believe that now
I can change the direction of where it will blow
— Paul S. Kim