Vanderbilt Prison Project

We are a service-based organization founded in 1972 that is committed to its purpose of inspiring and educating both the Vanderbilt and Nashville communities to collectively work towards an improvement in the current state of criminal justice system and all those affected by it either directly or indirectly including at-risk youth, inmates, those that have recently been released, and those affected by the incarceration of loved ones.

Our panel involved an in-depth discussion of prison life, the criminal justice system, and the lives that are affected by these two entities. This YouTube link will take you to the archive of videos from this event (click the lowercase "i" in the upper right corner, and proceed to "Jordaan McGill").

Discussants (left to right):

• Reginald Williams, mentor and former inmate
• Steve Crawley, former inmate
• Penny Haynes, correctional officer at Riverbend Prison
• Ndume Olatushani, activist and former inmate (20 years on death row)
• Shakya Cherry-Donaldson, Children's Defense Fund representative

Come serve dinner to returning citizens at the Dismas House! Sign up on Anchorlink.

We will be serving on the following dates:

• Monday, October 14th
• Thursday, October 24th
• Thursday, October 31st
• Thursday, November 7th
• Thursday, November 14th
• Wednesday, November 20th

There is a limit on volunteers for each trip, so it's first come, first serve. Please understand that if you sign up, you commit to volunteering on that day unless unforeseen issues arise!

The Next Door provides a continuum of evidence-based services for women and their families impacted by addiction, mental illness, trauma and/or incarceration with Christ-centered compassionate care. This organization offers a program called Reading Buddies in which volunteers teach reading comprehension skills to the children (ages 3-13) who belong to these women. We are tremendously enthused to begin a partnership!

If you would like to serve in this way, you MUST attend a MANDATORY orientation session. It will take place Monday, October 7 from 1:00-2:00 PM in Sarratt 112. To RSVP, email Dacia Green. If you are unable to attend but still would like to be involved, please contact Erica Johnson.

Date: Monday, October 21

Time: 8:00 PM

Place: TBA

Dues ($10) will be collected at this meeting, and we will discuss the future plans of VPP.