School Halls
Not Prison Walls
A Graduation & Prison Prevention Program Focusing on Graduation & Prison Prevention Through Mathematics and Mentoring.
Mission Statement
The mission of “Schools Halls Not Prison Walls” is to increase graduation rates and decrease incarceration rates of students nationwide by providing justice-involved and at-risk youth and their families with the relationships, skills, educational opportunities, and employment opportunities they need to achieve success, thrive as law-abiding citizens, and reach their full personal potential.
Vision
Our vision involves helping students and families, especially those in high risk communities, overcome the obstacles that lead to becoming high school dropouts. We want to ensure that all students are equipped with a strong algebra foundation as well as having Individual Graduation Success Plans (IGSP). We believe that all students can and should graduate from high school fully prepared for college, trade schools, military service or the workforce. We believe that all students have unique talents and abilities that must be developed in partnership with the home, school, and faith based community to ensure that they become productive members of society versus lives of incarceration and failure.
In A Nutshell…
- School Halls Not Prison Walls Inc initiative is designed to address the critical issue of juvenile incarceration and its correlation with dropping out of school.
- By providing Protect Your Mind workshops, mentoring, education, employment opportunities, life skills training, and support to at-risk youth and their families.
- Our goal is to reduce recidivism rates and increase positive life outcomes such as graduation rates, post-secondary enrollment, employment, and successful reintegration into society.
Who We Serve
Crossover Youth
A young person, age 10 or older, who is currently involved with both the child welfare system and juvenile justice systems.
Juvenile Offender
A young person, between the ages of 10 and 18, currently involved in the juvenile justice system, but who is not involved in the child welfare system. Involvement in the juvenile justice system includes allegedly committing a juvenile offense, being adjudicated as a juvenile offender. Or entering into an Intermediate Intervention Program
Testimonies
I am deeply appreciative of the School Halls Not Prison Walls program that is currently being implemented at our detention facility. The team of mentors, led by dr. Polite, is doing a remarkable job by guiding, supporting, and serving as positive role models for our detained youth. Their efforts extend beyond the facility as they continue to provide support for the youth even after they are released back into the community. Through this initiative, our youth are equipped with the necessary skills, resources, and opportunities to create a brighter future for themselves and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
School Halls Not Prison Walls has changed my way of thinking about school and life. I now value my freedom and when I get out I’m not going back to jail.
I have watched a lot of our students begin to take their lives and education seriously since Dr. Polite introduced the Protect Your Mind curriculum and School Halls Not Prison Walls initiative at the center.
Program Description
School Halls Not Prison Walls provides workshops featuring curriculum from the Protect Your Mind program to juvenile offenders and their families. In addition to the workshops, School Halls Not Prison Walls includes one-on-one, youth-to-mentor sessions with professionally trained mentors, juvenile group sessions, and mentoring for the families of students leaving juvenile facilities. Workshops will be provided via several venues: in juvenile correctional facilities, in the community, in faith-based organizations (including church buildings, and through Sedgwick county’s providing opportunities while ending recidivism (power) program. The mentors are professionally trained in the strength-based approach. Mentors using this approach find success through delivering culturally relevant services, developing the strengths of those they serve, and building on the assets of the local community.
So far in 2024, we have graduated 26 men that have earned their diplomas while they’re in the juvenile justice system.
Mentors will focus on the following three equal and intertwined areas:
Academic Identity
An individual’s attempt to construct self-understanding and meaning by defining himself through academic values, school belonging, school regard and school performance.
Social Identity
Includes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and restorative decision-making.
Restorative Practices
Restorative practices is a social science that studies how to improve and repair relationships between people and communities.
The Mentors
1.
Mentors will be chosen from Wichita Public Schools “Future-Ready Advocate Mentors” (FRAM) program (link to FRAM page) and others. Fram already serves over 450 students in the state’s largest district, additional mentors all receive training in strength-based mentoring.
2.
Mentors will remain with the participants as they leave the juvenile justice system and reintegrate into school. Mentors will offer alternatives to traditional school settings based on individual student needs. Mentors are knowledgeable about alternative educational settings, including online options, and the district’s graduation advocacy program (gap), metro, ged options and many more. Mentors also refer participants for math and english tutoring and perform academic advising. Most importantly, the mentors connect with participants inside and outside of the school setting. Once coupled with a mentor, a student can expect to remain with that mentor until program completion.
Sub-Programs
Protect Your Mind
“Hood Infectious Virus” Workshop
Protect Your Mind
Brandon and Will Polite have now partnered with their father, William Polite Jr. Ed.S to redesign and update their Protect Your Mind – School Halls Not Prison Walls workbook for a new generation of young people.
They have also created a “School Halls not Prison Walls” Soundtrack and Video as well as creating a Protect Your Mind clothing line.
The goal of this initiative is to educate young people on the importance of protecting their minds from negative and harmful influences that can lead to negative life outcomes. In this highly acclaimed workshop and workbook series they share ten simple life lessons focused on helping young people as well as adults reach their full potential as students and citizens.
The original workshop has been presented in Detroit, St. Louis, East St. Louis, Los Angeles, Baton Rouge, Dallas, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Chicago, Wichita, and other cities.
To schedule a workshop at your school, church, youth organization or juvenile center please contact us at protectyourmindllc@gmail.com or 312-497-2970.
Clothing items can be purchased at www.protectyourmindllc.com
“Hood Infectious Virus” Workshop
This workshop addresses a topic known as the other HIV– “Hood Infectious Virus” which leads to AIDS – “Addiction to Incarceration or Death Syndrome”. William Polite has shared this message throughout the nation in helping students understand the shared beliefs, attitudes and values that lead to lives of crime, poverty and incarceration versus lives of education, success and freedom. Topics Include:
- What is the Hood Infectious Virus?
- Education is Your Protection!
- It’s Time for a Change of Mind!
- You are a Great Creation!
- Don’t Be a Trick!
- The Business of Jail!
- Where Are You Going?
- Where My Dawgs At?
- The Virus is Contagious– Don’t Catch it!
More Workshops, Workbooks, and CD’s
- You Can’t Soar With Eagles When You Think Like A Chicken!
- Mathematics– A Journey Into Your Future!
- Mentoring Through Mathematics!
- Mathematics– The New Affirmative Action!
- Don’t Make Your Mother Have To Come To Your Funeral!
- Understanding Your Greatness!
- Whatever You Value In Life is What You Will Get In Life!
In Conclusion
School Halls Not Prison Walls Inc. is a dropout prevention and prison prevention workshop/program that focuses on helping at-risk students graduate from high school and not get involved in the criminal justice system.
William Polite has presented this workshop in over 50 cities throughout the United States including Chicago, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Detroit, Wichita, Dallas and many others. There is a series Workbook, DVD and musical CD that are available for use with anyone who works with urban students. Dr. Polite is available to present to your church, school, youth group, juvenile center or youth sports team at your request!
Supporting community organizations in improving outcomes for juvenile offenders and families
Why School Halls Not Prison Walls is needed in the community to decrease recidivism rates for juvenile offenders by increasing graduation rates while developing positive academic and social identities.
School Halls, Not Prison Walls, is prison prevention through mentoring and education with a focus on mathematics. Our vision involves helping students and families, especially those in high-risk communities, overcome the obstacles that lead to dropping out which can then lead to juvenile incarceration. Following the pandemic, graduation rates of African-American males in Wichita public schools decreased to 67% while incarceration rates of African-American males increased. There is a direct correlation between dropping out of high school and being incarcerated. The 2022 recidivism rate in the united states: 41% of offenders returning within 2 years for juveniles who committed property crimes, the recidivism rate was 78%.
“SCHOOL HALLS NOT PRISON WALLS INC.” presents a comprehensive approach to addressing juvenile recidivism by prioritizing education, mentorship, employment, and community support. With its evidence-based framework and ambitious outcome goals, the program holds promise for making a meaningful impact on the lives of at-risk youth and their families.
School Halls Not Prison Walls is a non profit organization organized under Build & Rebuild, Inc.
“Creating a Stronger America One Graduate at a Time”
Outcome Goals
- Percent of youth living at home at completion of program/service. Target: 100%
- Percent of youth in school and/or working at completion of program/service. Target: 90%
- Percent of youth with no new arrests at completion of program/service, target: 80% Percent of youth successfully completing the program/service. Target: 80%
- Percent of youth living at home 1 year post-completion of program/service. Target: 90%
- Percent of youth in school and/or working 1 year post-completion of program/service. Target: 90%
- Percent of youth with no new arrests 1 year post-completion of program/service. Target: 80%
Eligibility Requirements
(Include, but not limited to)
- Previous incarceration
- Member of a street gang
- Poor school achievement
- Chronic school absenteeism
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Home discord/dysfunction
- Antisocial behavior
- High risk-taking behavior
- Involved in violence