Sy Newson Green faced a crisis during his freshman year of high school. His father required a heart transplant, and his mother suffered an accident that left her visually impaired. With both parents losing their jobs, Green’s future at Palma School, a private all-boys Catholic institution, was suddenly uncertain.
Unexpectedly, help came from an unlikely source: inmates at California’s Soledad Prison. These inmates pooled their earnings from prison jobs, with some external assistance, to cover the majority of Green’s tuition, amounting to an impressive $32,000, enabling him to complete his education through graduation.
The inspiration for this initiative stemmed from a book club. Jim Micheletti, an English and theology teacher at Palma School, initiated a reading program called Exercises in Empathy at Soledad seven years prior. This program facilitated regular discussions between Palma students and inmates, fostering a deeper understanding and challenging stereotypes. Micheletti noted the transformation in students’ perceptions, saying, “They go in thinking ‘monster,’ and they come out thinking ‘a man, a human being.’”
Among the inmates, Jason Bryant and Ted Gray, who were serving long sentences, aimed to create a positive narrative despite their not so colourful pasts. They decided to establish a scholarship fund for a deserving Palma student, selecting Sy Green, who excelled academically and athletically.
Over the next three years, Bryant and Gray worked diligently from behind prison walls to raise funds for Green’s education. Although most contributions were modest, the consistency made the difference.
Now 19, Green graduated from Palma last year and is currently studying at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. After serving 20 years, Bryant received clemency and now works as the Director of Restorative Programs at CROP, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing recidivism through training, career development, and stable housing. He believes that helping others is the key to breaking the cycle of crime and punishment.