Prison to Purpose

"I woke up in a place I didn't know existed. I thought my life was over."

This is the story of Sean Pica. Pica is a living example of what was termed as the Schools to prison pipeline. At the time Pica should have been entering the 9th grade instead he was 16 years old entering a Prison in New York facing a 24 year Sentence. Pica thought his life was over at that time yet this wa really the beginning of his story and impact. Sean did his best to keep to himself and out of trouble yet disciplinary issues led him to see nine different facilities during his sentence. Still today he stands as the executive director of an organization committed to providing college education, life skills, and re-entry support to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men and women.

America had adopted a tough on crime approach during the 90s and it was an unfortunate reality that many young men had their education cut short by legal issues. Even having made it to the 9th grade put Sean above many of his peers when it came to reading and writing. At the request of an officer Sean began reading children’s stories to the inmates and the response from those around him awoke him to the power of education. Sean continued to assist inmates in communicating with their loved ones and learning to read and write themselves.

While behind bars he would lead a youth program sharing his experience with other teen offenders. He would also complete 400 credits of higher education earring him a bachelor's degree in organizational management from Nyack College, and two master's degrees from New York Theological Seminary and Hunter College. Eem more than the education itself Sean credits the power of creating community with changing his life and allowing him to return to his community better than when he left.

"The one way to keep a prisoner a prisoner is to keep him from having a community. When no one talks, the largest cell block is merely a warehouse."

It was Hudson Link that gave Sean the opportunity to improve himself at a time where he was simply looking for something to fill conversation with his family. Today, Hudson Link is active in six correctional facilities providing pathways for inmates to return to their communities as productive, tax-paying citizens who positively influence their neighborhoods. Sean pica now leads the same org that helped him to change his life and is committed to making up for lost time and building a sustainable prison education program that gives incarcerated individuals the same chance at success that he had.