First Women Graduates of Northwestern Prison Education Program Celebrate Achievements

In Kewanee, Illinois, educators and family members gathered to celebrate an extraordinary achievement. Under a white tent, dressed in Northwestern University’s purple robes, 18 women incarcerated at the Kewanee Life Skills Re-Entry Center marked a historic moment. They became the first incarcerated women in the U.S. to earn a bachelor’s degree from a top 10 university, thanks to the Northwestern Prison Education Program.

Since 2018, this program has provided educational opportunities to incarcerated individuals in Illinois. It offers various courses, ranging from short-term college-readiness classes to bachelor’s degree programs. This graduation marked the successful culmination of years of dedicated study, beginning in the fall of 2021 at Logan Correctional Center.

As the first cohort of women traveled nearly 100 miles to graduate, the ceremony included speeches from notable figures like former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then-Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss. Pelosi delivered a powerful message, urging graduates to embrace their unique achievements and potential.

The event highlighted the hard work and perseverance of these women, who had spent five years studying social sciences. Founder of the program, NU philosophy professor Jennifer Lackey, spoke of their hope, strength, and kindness. Each graduate expressed gratitude through emotional speeches, aspiring to use their education for teaching, advocating for penal reform, and practicing restorative justice.

Among the graduates was Stephanie Bonds, who received her diploma while her daughter and granddaughter cheered her on. Despite a 45-year sentence, Bonds showed determination and hope for the future. Her daughter’s presence underscored the personal significance of the event.

For Bonds and her fellow graduates, the ceremony was both a celebration and a stepping stone. While Bonds plans to apply her degree even during incarceration, she contemplates her future goals in psychology. Her daughter, Jala Johnson, emphasized the significance of this achievement, expressing pride and support for her mother’s hard-earned success.