Sing Sing Correctional Facility hosted TEDxSingSing, the first TEDx event to take place in a New York State prison. Speakers for TEDxSingSing included Ice-T, Gina Belafonte, Majora Carter, Bryonn Bain, Dan Slepian, and Sing Sing Superintendent Michael Capra. Find Out More Inside.
TED which stands for (Technology, Education, and Design) is a nonprofit organization devoted to spreading ideas, in the form of short powerful talks. TED has recently launched TEDx, a program helping organizations independently organize their own events based on the TED model which is a gathering of individuals to share ideas with one another in the form of carefully curated talks on a variety of topics.
Speakers for TEDxSingSing included Gina Belafonte, Majora Carter, Bryonn Bain, Dan Slepian, Sing Sing Superintendent Michael Capra, and Rapper/Actor Ice-T.
Ice-T, who spoke on the Hudson Link educational program said “You all got master’s degrees — I ain’t got a master’s degree,”…“Do I need to come here to get educated?” He then recited part of one of his songs, “New Jack Hustler,” a cappella.
“Creating Healthy Communities.” The theme of the event; was explored from a variety of perspectives, including individual, physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as learning how to work together in order to build a nourishing and supportive community.
The event was organized by Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison, a nonprofit organization which provides college education, life skills and re-entry support to incarcerated men and women. Hudson Link a program which Sing Sing inmates have praised, offers coursework towards both bachelors and masters degrees. This program in itself separates Sing Sing from other maximum security facilities.
According to the NY TIMES, Sing Sing’s superintendent, Michael Capra, spoke about wanting to develop “a new cool” among trouble-prone youth which would emphasize education and the arts over serving time in prison being something to brag about. Cpara states “This rite of passage to come upstate has got to end,”.
Now look at that. An amazing program amongst minorities in prison allowing them to still strive for greatness despite their current circumstances. I believe more programs like TEDxSingSing and Hudson Link need to be established in correctional facilities across the nation. What are your thoughts.
BLOHNDIE OUT
The secular world always attempt to displace the the spiritual wherever it believes money can be made. What is the motive for Hudson Link and TedX entering reentry “business”? Why Sing-Sing, why now, and most importantly why not in the most depressed facilities. I tend to be sceptical of good doers who suddenly begin to get press especially in areas that are traditionally Faith-Based established.