Degrees of Hope: Bringing College to Incarcerated Youth in Virginia
Rev. Lauren Cogswell Ramseur
Lauren Ramseur, a Presbyterian pastor and board member of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, the organization leading Virginia Consensus, is on a mission to bring dignity and opportunity to young people impacted by the justice system.
Ramseur leads Voices of Jubilee, a ministry that provides support to incarcerated youth and their families in the Greater Richmond Region. Some of the children she supports face long sentences, and some transition into adult correctional facilities as they age. But Ramseur’s work doesn’t stop at advocacy - she walks alongside them for the long haul, offering spiritual care, educational opportunities and emotional support as they grow into adulthood.
Part of her ministry’s impact lies in providing access to higher education. Since 2018, Voices of Jubilee has offered scholarships for incarcerated students to take correspondence college courses. So far, two students have benefited – one attending Adams State University and another studying through Upper Iowa University.
Education as a Lifeline
For these students, access to higher education hasn’t just been about academic achievement. It’s been about survival.
“Higher education in prison is a lifeline,” said Ramseur. “It gives people something to keep their hope alive. It’s a way for them to maintain their humanity in a dehumanizing system, and to plan for a future that many had stopped believing was possible.”
One of the students completed their degree while incarcerated. Another student thrived in her studies, eagerly enrolling in course after course. “We were so proud when she got an A on her paper,” said Ramseur. “She worked so hard reading, researching, writing. It gave her something meaningful to work toward.”
The Barriers Are Real and Unjust
For every student who gets a chance, there are many more who don’t. Ramseur shares the story of another young adult who signed up for every available course during his incarceration but never got in because the waitlists were too long.
“And for families already struggling financially, the idea of paying for higher education in prison can feel out of reach,” said Ramseur. “That’s why access through scholarships and public support is so essential.”
Some of the volunteers with the Voices of Jubilee at Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center (BAJCC) in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Image source: Voices of Jubilee Facebook
Why This Matters to All of Us
Education in prison isn't just about second chances, it’s a smart investment in public safety, workforce development and community healing. Ramseur believes the benefits ripple far beyond the prison walls.
“People are misinformed about who is in prison and why. Why wouldn’t we want to give people a chance to grow? Education is a right, and it’s a deeply human experience. When we extend that opportunity, it makes all of us and our communities better,” said Ramseur.
As Virginia expands access to Pell Grants for incarcerated learners, the opportunity is now to support programs that work. Lauren Ramseur and Voices of Jubilee are showing that with a little faith, a lot of compassion, and access to education, we can create a justice system rooted not in punishment, but in possibility.