Kaiser Banner

MT. TAM COLLEGE NAMED NONPROFIT OF YEAR

Students at Mount Tamalpais College are given the opportunity for personal development via an associate of arts degree program. Photo courtesy of Bonaru Richardson

Assemblymember Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, has recognized Mount Tamalpais College as the 2025 Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 12. Mount Tamalpais College provides an associate of arts degree program and college preparatory program to individuals incarcerated at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. The program, which is free of charge, aims to expand access to quality higher education for incarcerated people and foster the values of equity, civic engagement and freedom of expression.

“I am proud to recognize Mount Tamalpais College as our Nonprofit of the Year and honor their work promoting justice, equity and transformation in our community,” said Assemblymember Connolly. “By expanding access to higher education among incarcerated people in California, we can work to break the cycle of recidivism and provide inmates with the tools they need to succeed upon their release.”

According to the Department of Justice, inmates who participate in correctional education programs have 43% lower odds of returning to prison than those who do not, and every dollar spent on prison education saves $4 to $5 on the costs of re-incarceration.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized by Assemblymember Damon Connolly as the 2025 Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 12,” said Jody Lewen, president of Mount Tamalpais College. “This recognition is a testament to the transformative power of higher education in prison and to the enduring partnerships that support our mission. For nearly 30 years, we’ve been proud to provide rigorous higher education and college preparatory programs at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, fostering equity, dignity and opportunity. We are especially grateful to Assemblymember Connolly for his steadfast commitment to criminal justice reform and his advocacy for meaningful, community-based solutions.”

Since 1996, the institution has provided tuition-free associate of arts degrees and college preparatory programs to incarcerated students. In 2022, Mount Tamalpais College achieved a historic milestone by receiving accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, becoming the first accredited, independent college based inside a U.S. prison.

For more information, visit mttamcollege.edu.

Be the first to comment on "MT. TAM COLLEGE NAMED NONPROFIT OF YEAR"

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*