Inside-Out Closing Ceremonies at Waymart

​​​​For more than 15 years, SCI Waymart has partnered with Keystone College in La Plume to deliver the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program. Each fall, Professor Stacey Wyland and her “Outside” students enter SCI Waymart once a week to learn from and with SCI Waymart’s “Inside” students. Lively discussions ensue, prejudices are erased, mindsets are changed, and minds are opened.

One of the course requirements is a capstone group project which includes a proposal to improve some aspect of our justice system. This is challenging as the Inside students have minimal access to technology. Nonetheless, students were able to bring their brainstorms to fruition and present their project during the final class. Since numerous discussions were had on the reentry process, this year’s class proposed forming a group led by inmates to prepare better for reentry opportunities and challenges.

Both the Inside and Outside student speakers expressed gratitude to Professor Wyland and the SCI Waymart staff for making this memorable learning experience possible. Staff attendance at the event gave witness to the strong support this program receives.