Incredibly excited to learn about this important project. Can you talk a bit about how participants are recruited, and what some of the barriers are to their shorter-term and longer-term participation? These types of opportunities are so critical for so many people, thanks so much for sharing!

Hi Sarah, Thanks so much for your interest in our project! Our NSF-INCLUDES DDLP "STEPs to STEM" aims to broaden participation in STEM fields among currently and formerly incarcerated people in New Jersey. Barriers to STEM fields for incarcerated people in the United States have traditionally included lack of access to educational opportunities both prior to and during incarceration. This project taps into the long-standing interests of many of our students; in summer 2017, we held "STEM Info Sessions" in three New Jersey prisons to discuss STEM career possibilities and course selection for the STEM track in the AA degree program. We also recruit post-release students to a summer REU program by advertising through the Mountainview Community at Rutgers University.   

Great project, Jill.  I look forward to keeping an eye on this and the amazing impact it will have on into the future.  Other than the internships, what are some of the specific supports you have in place to ensure success and retention?  Are you integrating specialized support for specific learning or social-emotional disabilities?  

Wow, this project is so important! Are you also supporting students through their AA degree programs? Are you partnering with community colleges or other higher education institutions? Also, is the REU program only one summer? If not, I wonder if offering multiple summer programs might be helpful for retention and advising of participants - even into early career. You have identified a wonderful opportunity - are you thinking of expanding to other states?

Hi Pati, thanks so much for your questions! We partner with Raritan Valley Community College, who accredits coursework inside towards an AA degree. Our REU interns from last summer are participating in a second REU this summer, and we have seven new interns coming to Princeton in June. Right now we are focused on New Jersey, but are enjoying dialoging with organizations in other states.

It's so great to see that you bring STEM fields to people regardless of their background. Diversity comes in many forms. Offering support to people who were previously incarcerated is great, especially when they can do so much good in the STEM fields! Keep up the great work! 

Wow, what an absolutely fascinating program. Prison is meant to help rehabilitate citizens and get them back on track, and this project is really helping to make that happen. When inmates leave the system they should be equipped with future-ready career skills so they can be more successful than they were before they were imprisoned. What a great way to help empower people and help them get their lives onto a useful, productive track. I, too, would have thought that a focus on humanities was the best option for rehabilitation, but a focus on STEM subjects and careers would certainly be more useful in finding a new career and starting a new life. Great work!