Unlock Higher Education Speakers series

Unlock Higher Education

The Unlock Higher Education Speaker Series brings together leaders, changemakers, and subject-matter experts to explore critical issues in higher education within prison settings. Each episode features powerful conversations on topics like digital equity, disability inclusion, college readiness, and access to federal grants. From national policy leaders to grassroots educators and journalists, our speakers offer insights that inform advocacy and inspire action. Whether you’re an ally, policymaker, or justice-impacted scholar, this series is your gateway to understanding the intersection of edu

Episodes

  1. Apr 29

    UHE's April Speaker's Series with Desiree “Dezi Speaks” Riley

    In this powerful April session of Unlock Higher Education’s Speaker Series, Desiree “Dezi Speaks” Riley takes us inside the work of transformation—where lived experience becomes leadership, and leadership creates real pathways forward.As the founder of The MasterMind Cooperative, Dezi shares how her team is building opportunity through innovative programs like their Green Jobs Workforce Development initiative—graduating participants from a 6-week paid training focused on composting, landscaping, and solar installation. This conversation goes beyond theory, offering a real look at what it takes to create sustainable, community-driven change for individuals returning home.The session also expands globally, featuring voices from Peru and Panama who are building eco-conscious businesses alongside incarcerated and returning individuals—highlighting both the possibilities and policy barriers that shape this work across different systems.This is more than a conversation. It’s a blueprint for what happens when purpose, innovation, and community come together.🔗 Learn more about Dezi’s work:The MasterMind Cooperative: https://www.themastermindcoop.com/Dezi’s Linktree: https://www.dezispeaks.life📚 Explore her writing:Felony to Freedom: https://www.amazon.com/Felony-Freedom...Breaking Chains, Building Futures: https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Chain...Join us as we continue building pathways to education, leadership, and second chances—together.#UnlockHigherEd #FromPrisonCellsToPhD #JusticeImpacted #SecondChances #WorkforceDevelopment #LeadershipMatters #SystemChange

    59 min

  2. Apr 28

    UHE's March Speaker's Series with Josephine Horace-Jackson

    In this month’s Unlock Higher Education Speaker Series, we welcomed Josephine Horace-Jackson, a leader with more than 30 years of experience serving marginalized and justice-impacted communities. She shared her journey across healthcare, policy, grassroots organizing, and nonprofit leadership—and what it really takes to create change that lasts.Josephine broke advocacy down to its core: it’s not just about influencing systems, it’s about showing up for people. She spoke on the importance of community navigation, meeting individuals where they are, and ensuring that those closest to the challenges are leading the solutions. Her perspective challenged us to think beyond policy and into practice—how service, trust, and consistency build real impact.This session is a reminder that leadership isn’t loud—it’s steady. It’s built through action, relationships, and a commitment to lifting others as you move forward.Watch, reflect, and take something with you—because when advocacy is done right, it doesn’t just change systems. It changes lives.#UnlockHigherEducation #JusticeImpacted #CommunityLeadership #AdvocacyInAction #ReentrySupport #HigherEdForAll #SystemChange #VoicesThatMatter

    58 min

  3. Feb 25

    UHE's February Speaker's Series with Dr. Basia Skudrick

    In this month’s Unlock Higher Education Coalition Meeting, we welcomed Dr. Basia Skudrick, PhD, who shared her journey from incarceration to academic success and leadership. She discussed the systemic barriers justice-impacted individuals face in accessing education and sustainable employment, and emphasized the power of mentorship, support networks, and self-acceptance.Dr. Basia also highlighted her work as Director of Howard University’s NSF Bridges to Bachelorette Program, a model providing structured pathways from associate to bachelor’s degrees for returning citizens. Her insights underscored the importance of connecting universities with corporations, creating meaningful opportunities, and centering students in reentry-focused programs.This session reminds us that higher education is more than a credential—it’s a tool for transformation, empowerment, and community impact.Watch, learn, and be inspired by how resilience, education, and support can change lives.#UnlockHigherEducation #ReentrySuccess #JusticeImpactedScholars #HigherEdForAll #MentorshipMatters #PathwaysToSuccess #BreakingChainsBuildingFutures #EducationIsLiberation

    55 min

  4. Jan 28

    UHE's January Speaker's Series with Noah Bein - Director of Justice Policy and Advocacy - JFF

    🎙️ Noah Bein – Director of Justice Policy & Advocacy at Jobs for the Future (JFF), working at the intersection of justice, workforce mobility, and policy reform. Noah leads state and federal efforts to remove barriers facing people with criminal records, with a portfolio spanning youth justice, reentry, and large-scale legislative change—grounded in both data and lived realities.In this session of the Unlock Higher Education Speaker Series, we explore how policy decisions shape access to education and economic opportunity, and what it actually takes to turn reform into results for justice-impacted learners.🔗 Register here:https://conta.cc/3IG0tDH📅 Join our next committee meetingHeld the last Monday of every month at 1 PM EST👉 Sign up to attend: https://conta.cc/3DT9giN🙌 Want to get involved?Join one of our dynamic committees in Membership, Fundraising, Advocacy, Events, or Media & Messaging:👉 https://conta.cc/3mXx6VJ#UnlockHigherEducation #JusticePolicy #WorkforceMobility #Reentry #HigherEducationInPrison #CriminalJusticeReform #PolicyInAction #SecondChanceEducation

    49 min

  5. 12/17/2025

    UHE's December Speaker's Series: End of Year Address

    This month, we’re breaking from our regular Speaker Series to spotlight our incredible Committee Chairs. Led by our Director, Judith Negron, they will present their plans for the upcoming year, setting the stage for UHE’s vision and initiatives in 2025. It’s a perfect opportunity to catch up, share your insights, and help shape the future of Unlock Higher Education. Learn more about our work at https://www.unlockhighered.org/, and submit any questions to mickey@prisontopor.org. Remember, next month's meeting will be January 26th at 1:00 Eastern Standard Time, but we normally meet on the last Monday of the month! Sign up at https://conta.cc/3DT9giNExplore opportunities to join our dynamic committees in Membership, Fundraising, Advocacy, Events, or Media. Sign up at: https://conta.cc/3mXx6VJ.

    51 min

  6. 12/11/2025

    UHE's October Speaker's Series with Paul Rothschild

    November’s Unlock Higher Education Speaker Series brings a conversation that cuts straight to the bone of what real transformation looks like. Paul Rothschild bridges two worlds most people never see together: years of high-level corporate leadership and the lived experience of serving a ten-year federal sentence. That dual vantage point gives him a rare ability to diagnose what’s broken—and build what must replace it.Paul’s work with ENDPP.ORG is reshaping how reentry support, advocacy, and operational systems function on the ground. His story isn’t just about overcoming; it’s about redesigning the pathways others will walk next. This month’s session dives into the intersection of justice, education, and the kind of practical innovation that changes lives in real time.📌 Watch the full session:http://bit.ly/47Rxjxp🔗 Learn more about the Speaker Series:https://conta.cc/47l7llg▶️ Rewatch past sessions + explore more content:@unlockhighered on YouTube📅 Join our next committee meeting:Last Monday of every month at 1 PM EST👉 https://conta.cc/3DT9giN🙌 Get involved:Join a committee—Membership, Fundraising, Advocacy, Events, or Media & Messaging:👉 https://conta.cc/3mXx6VJ#UnlockHigherEducation #EducationEquity #CollegeInPrison #SecondChances #JusticeImpacted #HigherEdForAll #BanTheBox #Reentry #TransformativeJustice #AmplifyVoices #FromPrisonCellsToPhD #AdvocacyInAction #CriminalJusticeReform

    1h 3m

  7. 10/29/2025

    UHE's October Speaker's Series with Kathryn Trapp

    Join us for an insightful session with Kathryn Trapp, whose research bridges the gap between theory and real-world impact. Kathryn’s work with Unlocked Labs is transforming policy, earned-time reform, and reentry support — the kind of scholarship that changes systems from the inside out.📌 Watch the full session:http://bit.ly/47Rxjxp🔗 Learn more: https://conta.cc/47l7llg🔁 Rewatch & explore more content on our YouTube channel: @unlockhighered📅 Join our next committee meeting!Happening the last Monday of every month at 1 PM EST👉 Sign up to attend: https://conta.cc/3DT9giN🙌 Want to get involved?Join one of our dynamic committees in Membership, Fundraising, Advocacy, Events, or Media & Messaging:👉 https://conta.cc/3mXx6VJ#UnlockHigherEducation #DisabilityJustice #PrisonEducation #EducationalEquity #SecondChances #FromPrisonCellsToPhD #InclusionInEducation #AccessibilityMatters #HigherEdForAll #JusticeReform #Reentry #TraumaInformed #DisabilityAccess

    58 min

  8. 10/01/2025

    UHE's September Speaker's Series with Dr. Casey LaFrance

    In this powerful session, we’re joined by Dr. Casey LaFrance. Dr. LaFrance shares powerful insights on systems thinking, reentry, and accessible education—and how innovation can drive real change in justice-impacted communities. The Agenda: http://bit.ly/4ntsoce 📊 View or download Dr. Casey LaFrance's full presentation here: http://bit.ly/47aIj8L 📬 Contact the Speaker: http://bit.ly/4mFryrJ 🔁 Rewatch this session and explore more content on our YouTube Channel: / @unlockhighered 📅 Join our next committee meeting! Happening the last Monday of every month at 1 PM EST 👉 Sign up to attend: https://conta.cc/3DT9giN 🙌 Want to get involved? Join one of our dynamic committees in Membership, Fundraising, Advocacy, Events, or Media & Messaging: 👉 https://conta.cc/3mXx6VJ The new Breaking Chains, Building Future book: https://a.co/d/8MJTbjH and their Podcast: https://youtu.be/CILJQq7Qa8E?si=5LFyaI3mntG8ck7c #UnlockHigherEducation #DisabilityJustice #PrisonEducation #EducationalEquity #SecondChances #FromPrisonCellsToPhD #InclusionInEducation #AccessibilityMatters #HigherEdForAll #JusticeReform #Reentry #TraumaInformed #DisabilityAccess

    50 min

  9. 08/28/2025

    UHE's August Speaker's Series with Ben Wright of The Community and Dr. Jenifer Montag

    Back by popular demand, we’re joined by two national leaders in disability advocacy and prison education:🎙️ Ben Wright – Director of Disability Access in Prison Education at The Community, leading a multi-state initiative centered on training, trauma-informed practices, and systemic reform.🎙️ Dr. Jenifer Montag – Associate Director at The National Center for College Students with Disabilities (NCCSD), bringing decades of research and dedication to transforming outcomes for incarcerated learners with disabilities.Together, they dive into what it means to create truly inclusive educational pathways for justice-impacted students with disabilities.📬 Contact the Speakers:Ben Wright – ben@thecommunitynow.usDr. Jenifer Montag – Jenifer@ahead.orgSee the Agenda at https://drive.google.com/drive/folder...🔁 Rewatch this session and explore more content on our YouTube Channel: / @unlockhighered 📅 Join our next committee meeting!Happening the last Monday of every month at 1 PM EST👉 Sign up to attend: https://conta.cc/3DT9giN🙌 Want to get involved?Join one of our dynamic committees in Membership, Fundraising, Advocacy, Events, or Media & Messaging:👉 https://conta.cc/3mXx6VJ#UnlockHigherEducation #DisabilityJustice #PrisonEducation #EducationalEquity #SecondChances #FromPrisonCellsToPhD #InclusionInEducation #AccessibilityMatters #HigherEdForAll #JusticeReform #Reentry #TraumaInformed #DisabilityAccess

    51 min

  10. 07/30/2025

    UHE's July Speaker's Series with L. Elizabeth Shatswell & Trip Infinity Taylor + Co.

    🎯 Education shouldn’t end at the prison gate.What happens behind the walls doesn’t stay there—it shapes futures. This is your front-row seat to the fight for equity in education and employment for justice-impacted communities.In this powerful session, leaders like Trip Finity Taylor and L. Elizabeth Shatswell break down how the State Education and Workforce Collaborative is building real pipelines from incarceration to career. From expanding access to college programs in prison to tackling systemic barriers on the outside—this isn’t just a meeting.It’s a movement.📌 Agenda: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s-n6...📣 Apply for the RiseUp Conference (Sept 10–12, all-expenses-paid): https://www.riseupconference.org/copy...🎧 Listen to Judith Negron’s story on Breaking Chains:    • Resilience and Reinvention: Judith Negron ...  💡 Want to get involved?Join a committee: https://conta.cc/3mXx6VJ📬 Contact us: Mickey@prisontopro.org📅 Next meeting: Last Monday of every month at 1 PM EST – Sign up: https://www.unlockhighered.org/🔁 Rewatch & explore more: / @unlockhighered#UnlockHigherEducation #PrisonEducation #JusticeReform #SecondChances #EducationalEquity #FromPrisonCellsToPhD #InclusionInEducation #DisabilityJustice #HigherEdForAll #TraumaInformed #Reentry #AccessibilityMatters

    45 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

The Unlock Higher Education Speaker Series brings together leaders, changemakers, and subject-matter experts to explore critical issues in higher education within prison settings. Each episode features powerful conversations on topics like digital equity, disability inclusion, college readiness, and access to federal grants. From national policy leaders to grassroots educators and journalists, our speakers offer insights that inform advocacy and inspire action. Whether you’re an ally, policymaker, or justice-impacted scholar, this series is your gateway to understanding the intersection of edu

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