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(Event Recap) Power in Partnership: Higher Education, Reentry & Pathways to Opportunity

  • Eastern Henrico Recreation Center 1440 North Laburnum Avenue Richmond, VA, 23223 United States (map)

Power in Partnership: Higher Education, Reentry & Pathways to Opportunity

Overview

Hosted by Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and Virginia Consensus on Higher Education in Prison (VCHEP), Power in Partnership: Higher Education, Reentry & Pathways to Opportunity was an evening convening that brought together faith leaders, higher education partners, employers and reentry organizations to address the challenges and opportunities faced by individuals pursuing education during and after incarceration. The event helped deepen understanding, strengthen collaboration and invited new partners into the 2026 Strategic Planning process for VCHEP.


View the full photo gallery here.

Purpose & Goals

  • Center the moral imperative of college education in prison through interfaith and educational perspectives.

  • Highlight reentry realities, including barriers to continuing higher education or securing employment after release.

  • Build cross-sector collaboration between colleges, reentry providers, employers and faith communities.

  • Gather actionable insights to inform the 2026 VCHEP Strategic Plan.

Who Attended?

  • Representatives from Virginia’s colleges and universities (including HBCUs and community colleges)

  • Reentry organization leaders and formerly incarcerated professionals

  • Faith-based organizations and clergy

  • Employers and workforce development professionals

  • State and local agency partners focused on higher education and reentry policy

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October 31

(Event Recap) Digital Opportunity Summit: Design Thinking on the Tech Ecosystem for Higher Education in Virginia Prisons