Huskies for Opportunities in Prison Education has been able to work towards fulfilling our mission through multiple projects and events over the past several years. Our past work includes:
- A book drive on the University of Washington Campus through which over 1,000 textbooks were donated. These books were used to create a new resource library in Monroe Correctional Complex (MCC) and to expand an existing library at the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW).
- Creating the Bridges to HOPE Scholarship. This was a $2,000 scholarship raised by incarcerated individuals at Monroe and HOPE members. It was awarded, in fall 2016, to a local college student who was in foster-care. Foster youth are much more likely to face barriers to education, become incarcerated, or have an incarcerated family member. The Bridges to HOPE Scholarship was created due to the inmates' desire to encourage these youth to go down a path of education, rather than incarceration.
- Raising $2000 from a 2017 GoFundMe campaign to provide scholarships for incarcerated individuals at the Twin Rivers Unit at the Monroe Correctional Complex to take correspondence education courses. The courses were offered by established and reliable institutions (for example, courses were offered through Seattle Central College and Ohio University) and were on average, $500 per class. Donations covered tuition, books, and supplies.
- Hosting a Film Screening and Panel Discussion. This event features short films regarding prison and prison education as well as a discussion panel of formerly incarcerated individuals who are champions of education moderated by a UW professor.
- Creating an annual Prison Art Exhibit from 2015-2018. The exhibit features artwork of all kinds created largely by incarcerated artists, but also by other individuals who have been involved or impacted by the criminal justice system. It is held in order to raise awareness about prison reform and prison education programs, and also to humanize those who are impacted by the carceral system. Past exhibits have been featured in the Seattle Times, Huffington Post and in the UW’s newspaper, The Daily.
- The Donuts for Dictionaries fundraiser. Where we were able to raise over $300 to buy dictionaries for incarcerated individuals at the Monroe Correctional Complex. There was a need for dictionaries expressed by inmates who do not have access to computers, or other ways to "spell check" or look-up words. In response we organized this fundraiser and were able to donate more than the needed amount of dictionaries.