Who We Are
Project Book is a small non-profit 501 (C)(3) tax exempt organization that supports continuing education for young inmates at Rhode Island’s Adult Correctional Institute.
Several years ago we had the opportunity to listen to Andres Idarraga speak about his experience serving six years at Rhode Island’s Adult Correctional Institute for drug trafficking.
He spoke of his previous life dealing drugs and living in a neighborhood rife with crime, drugs, and hopeless poverty. Like so many neighbors, he landed in prison after several convictions.
What made his story compelling was that, while in prison he had the opportunity to begin his journey through higher education that eventually led to a law degree from Yale University.
Read more about Andres
Andres was driven to make a life free from his past. But he also understood his fortune in having a family that supported him and his efforts to to earn a degree. Andres explained that many other inmates were not so fortunate.
The program’s courses are taught by CCRI volunteers. The courses are free for inmates but the books are not. And, prison rules forbid students from sharing books, loaning them, or passing them along to other inmates. Far too many lacked the financial means or the family support need to succeed.
We formed Project Book with the single purpose of raising funds and donate them to purchase texts for those who cannot purchase books. We are small but over the past six or seven years have donated several thousand dollars.
We are fully aware that many if not most inmates fail to break the cycle. But some do. And it is worth the effort when even a small number find a way out .
Some do make it. And some do remarkably well. And a few have very interesting stories.
Click below to read about three remarkable graduates.