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Not so many years ago we had the opportunity to listen to a young man speak about his transition from being incarcerated at ACI to making a productive life for himself free from the world of drugs, crime, and poverty. Andres Idarraga had served five years incarcerated because of his previous life dealing drugs and living in a neighborhood rife with crime and and poverty.  What made Andres' story so compelling was that that, while in prison, he had earned an Associates Degree from the Community College of Rhode Island.  More impressive, though, was the fact that he had been accepted to and was about to enter Brown University. Since then Andres has not only graduated from Brown he

also went on to attend and graduate from the law school at Yale University.

We had an opportunity to speak with Andres and the totality of his story is both moving and very sad.  Andres' own story is, of course, very inspiring but the sad part was what he explained was happening all around him while he was in prison.  He explained that he was very fortunate that his family supported him to the extent that he was able to take advantage of the Associates Degree program offered at ACI by the Community College of Rhode Island. Unfortunately, however, he also explained that there were many other incarcerated  young people who very much wanted to take advantage of the free courses offered by CCRI.  But, while the courses were free the books were not.  And, far too few inmates had the money or support from their families or community to be able to purchase the books required for the courses.  Consequently, many of these inmates wishing to break away from their previous lives through education were hindered by the same circumstances that led them to ACI in the first place.

Andres'  achievements were the inspiration to create Project Book.

Please click here for information about the Prison Project and the role played by Project Book.

Our Mission Project Book is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing funds to purchase books in support of higher education for incarcerated young people.

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