The Inside-Out Alumni Group: Philadelphia Chapter Update

The Inside-Out Alumni Group: Philadelphia Chapter was founded last June 2010. Since its inception, the group has expanded, diversified and created new opportunities for Inside-Out Alumni in the Philadelphia area. Currently, the group is comprised of Inside-Out Alumni from Temple University and Community College of Philadelphia (CCP). In January 2011 and hosted by the National Office, 15 alumni group members participated in an inaugural alumni mini-training, in which they had an opportunity to learn about facilitation, the Inside-Out model, and Inside-Out pedagogy. Inside-Out Alumni: Philly is currently partnering with CCP’s Re-Entry Support Project at Cambria, a minimum-security facility in North Philadelphia. For five weeks, from March 3 – March 31, Philly Alumni are holding Inside-Out inspired workshops as part of the Re-entry Support Project’s Cambria Pilot program. 12 members from I-O Alumni: Philly along with 17 CCP students in Cambria meet Thursday evenings to have dialogues about important issues in our community. Workshop content consists of Family, Education and Employment, Race issues, and Community and The Criminal Justice System. I-O Alumni: Philly is also currently discussing future fundraising ideas to raise money for Inside-Out projects, both nationally and locally. We are looking forward to participating in The Re-Entry Support Project’s second cohort in Fall 2011, recruiting new members, and holding fundraisers for Inside-Out in the near future!

If you are looking to get involved with I-O Alumni: Philly, or want to learn more, contact us at tuioalumni@gmail.com. Join the Movement!

-- Francesco Campanell & Cyndi Zuidema