Learning Is For Everyone (LIFE) Program

Description

The Learning Is For Everyone (LIFE) Program is a successful inmate-operated literacy program which was established at the New Jersey State Prison in 1985 by community volunteers and inmates. The LIFE Program was conceived due to the high level of illiteracy within the prison population. All LIFE tutors are trained by ProLiteracy Worldwide. LIFE uses a group of dedicated inmate managers to oversee the day-to-day operation of the Program. They are involved in student and tutor recruiting, student testing, overseeing the evening tutoring sessions in the Prison's school, and running the monthly general meetings. The Program has 40 student/tutor pairs in the Program. The LIFE Program is a non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. LIFE was designated as President G.H. Bush's 323rd "Point of LIght" in his "Thousand Points of Light" campaign. LIFE's founder has received the Governor's Volunteer Award (which salutes elite volunteers throughout the State of New Jersey). In addition, LIFE was the focus of a 2002 Home Box Office documentary titled How Do You Spell Murder. LIFE has 40-50 student/tutor pairs in the Program.