At times we wondered if 2025 would ever be over, and now we find ourselves stunned that another semester is nearing its end. Regardless of how we experience time’s passage, we find ourselves exhausted. We experience great meaning and fulfillment in our work and in collaboration with the brilliant OPEEP faculty and students, but the changes in higher education in our state and in this country have us feeling uneasy. Administrative work is often draining, of course, but advocating for OPEEP remains a challenging and never-ending task. We are lucky to have many supporters in the work, and we thank all of you for reading, engaging, teaching, studying, and showing up for all of us and each other.
Our happiest news that will help us sustain the work comes from a renewal of our grant with the Mellon Foundation. An additional grant of $500,000 through 2028 will support our three learning communities, expand in-prison academic and intellectual programming, and create workforce development projects in service to humanities higher education in prison. Expect to hear a lot more about what this grant makes possible in the coming months. We send our deepest gratitude to the Mellon Foundation, the College of Arts and Sciences, Newark Campus, the Department of Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies, and the Office of Sponsored Projects. We also wish to thank The Sunshine Lady Foundation for a tuition assistance grant for Spring Semester enrollments at ORW.
This month’s newsletter reports on LAM Collective’s presentation at the National Women’s Studies Conference in Puerto Rico last month. Four LAM members (Liz, Stormy, Danielle, and Beth) discussed their work in the learning community over video conference while we facilitated the panel on site. Yes, we also danced, bathed in a waterfall, connected with old friends, spent time at the beach, and met other dedicated and fantastic feminists at the conference. Mostly we were proud of the LAM members for connecting so powerfully with the audience members and sharing the lessons of freedom dreaming in a prison facility for women.
Be sure you read the faculty profile with Dr. fabian romero (Comparative Studies and the American Indian Studies program, Columbus) who taught at ORW this semester, as well as a testimonial from Sean, a student at Richland Correctional Institution who took Dr. Terri Winnick’s sociology course (Mansfield Campus). Some of the students at ORW also shared thoughts about their first semester as full-time Buckeyes. Finally, Mel and Markeeta, members of LAM, offer an overview of a visit from Ms. Judy Richardson, a film producer and SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) staff member who also has been a key force in documenting the Movement’s leadership, memories, and materials. You can watch an interview with her on the SNCC Digital Gateway, and review the SNCC Toolkits that LAM members read in advance of her visit at the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke University website. It was a very special day at LAM, and we are thankful that she made the journey to us.
As always, stay connected with us on Instagram at @opeep_osu, and consider donating to our Campus Campaign.
Have a wonderful and restful semester break.
Dr. Mary Thomas and Dr. Tiyi Morris