​Prison-to-Professionals (P2P) Policy Associate

Policy Associate. Responsible for developing and communicating the views of PCTP to external stakeholders, such as associations, government agencies or legislative bodies. PCTP has formed a coalition with nonprofit organizations and stakeholders across the nation to help bring awareness to and to change policies that will help increase access to education for people involved in the legal system. The coalition has a conference call and in person meeting once per month in D.C. 

Our Advocacy:  We are dedicated to promoting and advocating for higher education for currently and formerly incarcerated men and women. The UNLOCK Higher Ed Coalition is a group of stakeholders interested in policy solutions to increase educational access for individuals with criminal convictions.
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Advocacy Priorities:

1. Restore Pell Grant eligibility for all incarcerated students. Currently,  REAL Act (S. 1074, H.R. 2168). More info. AEI overview.
2. Remove Q. 23 from the FAFSA to eliminate the relationship between federal student aid and drug convictions. Currently, SUCCESS ACT / S. 2557.
3. Remove questions regarding criminal history from college admission applications. Currently, Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act / S. 1338, HR. 2563. More info.
4. Support the Office of Correctional Education to standardize educational programming within the Bureau of Prisons through vetting and quality control oversight. Currently, PREP Act / S. 1337, HR. 2635. More info. PREP Bill. Here is the link to formally sign on to the Coalition!

​Job Summary

The Policy & Advocacy Analyst will assist P2P in carrying out a strategy designed to expand the number of P2P program participants and the number of supporters engaged in our national UHE campaign through policy analysis, research, writing and mobilization. This position focuses on P2P’s work in the #UnlockHigherEd (UHE) Coalition, a national partnership that P2P co-leads with New Orleans-based Operation Restoration (OR). UHE Coalition’s goal is to pass bundled legislation increasing access to higher education opportunities for currently and formerly incarcerated people. Legislative priorities include restoring Pell grant eligibility to incarcerated students (REAL Act); banning criminal history screenings on college applications; providing quality control, oversight, and standardization for Federal Bureau of Prisons educational programs (PREP Act); and removing the drug conviction question from the federal financial student aid application (FAFSA). This campaign moves quickly and involves dozens of stakeholders in philanthropy, advocacy, nonprofit, and government, and includes formerly incarcerated people unaffiliated with institutions in its advocacy.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Prepare and disseminate policy advocacy documents including fact sheets, memoranda, action alerts and outreach materials related to UHE.
2. Provide on-site support to the Director of Policy & Advocacy, including but not limited to attending coalition meetings and legislative visits in DC.
3. Conduct research and analysis on our core policy issues and emerging issues that intersect with P2P’s mission.
4. Track everything on Capitol Hill pertaining to our core policy issues including media, hearings, committee meetings, and lobby days, and schedule the corresponding events for P2P.
5. Maintain databases specific to partner organizations, elected officials, and relevant legislation.
6. Coordinate with Community Organizer to recruit, organize and mobilize P2P students and community members to participate in the UHE coalition.
7. Coordinate with Associate Director of Communications on materials for public consumption related to UHE.  
8. Collaborate with entire team to promulgate new policy initiatives and corresponding federal campaigns.  Potential to work on New York State and New York City initiatives as needed.
9. Assist with other administrative or clerical tasks as needed.
10. Other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies/Qualifications

Excellent writing and research skills.  Ability to work and write under deadline.  Ability to project manage. Demonstrated ability to work alone and as part of a team.  Previous work on issue-based, candidate campaigns or in a federal legislative office is highly desirable but not required.  Ties to Capitol Hill are highly desirable, but not required.

Job Description

The position involves: (1) gathering local and national data around education and incarceration and preparing briefings for events and meetings; (2) researching, drafting, and submitting general public and peer-reviewed publications; (3) preparing for and participating in media interviews; (4) dissemination of P2P policy agenda via newsletters, social media, etc.; (5) local and national public policy training; and (6) designing and conducting research studies related to incarceration and education policy.

​Job Duties

1. ​Gain thorough understanding of P2P’s interests as they relate to active legislation;
2. Use strong communications skills to reinforce and support P2P’s positions on specified issues;
3. Maintain knowledge of other interest groups that hold a similar position to P2P;
4. Prepare press releases and other informational literature;
5. May present P2P at news conferences and in other forms of media;

Requirement

Bachelor degree in a relevant field preferred (such as political science, communications, economics, law, public health, public relations, etc.). Skills and knowledge in areas such as communications and functioning of the political and legislative system is preferred but not necessary, as we will be training you.

Commitment

5-20 hours per week.

​Compensation

​Contracted and volunteer roles. Internship and Federal Work Study applicable.

From Prison Cells to PhD (PCTP): The goal of the Prison-to-Professionals (P2P) program is to help people with criminal convictions obtain college education. Our scholars receive college/loan application assistance, SAT/GRE prep, an individual development plan (IDP), college readiness workshops, leadership training, paid mini-internship, sitting in on college courses (before enrolling), access to tutors, scholarship opportunities, community building experiences, access to national meetings, and 2-yrs of mentoring. Formerly incarcerated college graduates serve as mentors. Master’s level professionals with combined 30+ years’ experience serve as workshop facilitators. Website: http://fromprisoncellstophd.org/ 

Our Mission: To help inspire others with similar backgrounds to excel beyond what society and life circumstances have set to be the norm. To provide mentoring and educational counseling to currently & formerly incarcerated people so that they may position themselves to start building their career as opposed to obtaining temporary employment. Our Vision: To reach, touch, and change the lives of individuals with disadvantaged backgrounds through advocacy, mentoring, and policy change.
 
Director’s Story. I am a formerly incarcerated person with 3 felony convictions, sentenced to 10 years in prison. I was once told by a prosecuting attorney that I had no hope for change. I am now a PhD scientist and faculty at Johns Hopkins Medicine and Howard College of Medicine. Article: https://goo.gl/7DZCva. Biopic: https://bit.ly/2I6ZXzZ

State Level work

P2P is performing policy work around increasing access to higher education in the following states:

• NY
• VA
• ME
• NC
• SC