NPEP graduate Anthony Ehlers provides a recap of all things NPEP from the fall of 2023 through the fall of 2024.
This past year has been one of achievement and loss, a year of firsts, and hopefully, lasts. The NPEP community has seen history-making events, as well as the deep sorrow of losing a beloved brother. There have been many challenges, and the NPEP community, both inside and out, has met them head on. Despite some serious issues, the students in both Stateville and Logan have found a way to continue to grow and shine.
We begin with the inside/outside book event for NPEP Founding Director and Northwestern Professor of Philosophy Jennifer Lackey’s book, Criminal Testimonial Injustice. In her book, Professor Lackey reveals various harms that many in the criminal justice system endure before incarceration. Criminal Testimonial Injustice blows the cover on the prosecution, judges, police, and even defense attorneys’ “manipulative, deceptive, or coercive tactics that are used to subvert justice.”
Attendees at the Stateville book event. (photo credit: XX)
The book event was the first of its kind inside of Stateville, a notorious maximum-security prison. With a mix of both inside and outside speakers, other renowned professors were invited to speak on what epistemic agency is, while the inside speakers—members of the NPEP program—spoke about firsthand accounts of the criminal justice system stealing their very humanity. It was a very powerful event. The next day, Professor Lackey continued her book event on the Northwestern campus with panels and discussion about what criminal testimonial injustice is. Needless to say, her book was met with widespread acclaim.
Last November, we had the graduation of NPEP’s Cohort 1 students. These 16 NPEP students made history as the first incarcerated students in the country to graduate from a top ten university.
The ceremony was covered by many media outlets, including WTTW’s Brandis Friedman, CBS’s Noel Brennan, ABC News’s Alex Perez, and the Chicago Reader’s Jim Daley among others. Governor J.B. Pritzker, who graduated from Northwestern’s Law School in 1995, left a heartfelt message, while Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton gave an amazing speech, saying “The NPEP program is a testament to how the power of education can truly transform lives and provide hope for a better future, both within and outside prison walls.” Northwestern University’s Provost Kathleen Hagerty told the graduates, “At Northwestern, we believe in transformation.”
James Soto speaking at graduation. (photo credit: XX)
NPEP Director Jennifer Lackey tried unsuccessfully to remain dry eyed as she spoke to each of the graduates in turn, highlighting how they stood out, telling graduates, “You have enriched Northwestern University in ways that will echo for decades to come.”
Award-winning journalist and author Ta-Nehisi Coates was the keynote speaker. He said he was in awe of the graduates, saying, “I think I can safely say that I will never in my life address a class that’s as decorated as this.” It was an amazing, history-making day.
Education was a gift given to Director Lackey by her mother, Janice Nora Lackey. She took the inspiration from her mother and created a first-of-its-kind program. For the first time in history, a top ten university would confer degrees on men in prison. This was not just the brainchild of Director Lackey, but in a very real way, her family legacy. To honor her mother, the Janice Nora Lackey Award for Academic Excellence was created. Chelsea Raker and William Peeples were the inaugural winners of the award.
On December 14, NPEP graduate James Soto was released from Stateville Correctional Center after a 42-year struggle to prove his innocence. James was fully exonerated; he was the longest-serving wrongfully convicted prisoner in Illinois history. Professor Lackey was outside to greet him when he walked out.
James is now working three jobs, one of which is at an anti-violence organization. He continues to go across the country talking about the criminal justice system and education. He still serves as a mentor to some of his classmates in prison.
Bernard McKinley visiting campus for the first time after being released. (photo credit: XX)
NPEP graduate, Benard McKinley was the first person in Illinois to take the LSAT while incarcerated and after coming home in January, was accepted to Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law in the spring. He began law school this fall.
This year NPEP welcomed two new cohorts of students, Cohort 4 was brought into Stateville in January. Part of the roof of NPEP’s cellhouse collapsed, causing all four cohorts to relocate. This was difficult, yet Cohort 4 faced it with courage and through all the turmoil, they continued their studies. The resiliency of NPEP students is truly amazing.
NPEP graduate Michael Broadway published his first book One Foot In this past year. It’s about two friends trying to navigate the streets of Chicago. Michael wrote the book longhand with a pen and paper, while still taking classes and battling Stage 4 prostate cancer.
Michael Broadway at graduation. (photo credit: XX)
Sadly, Michael passed away in June from an asthma attack, exacerbated by the conditions at Stateville. This was a tremendous blow to everyone in the NPEP community. Mike was known for his big smile and kind heart, he was always willing to help, and his positivity even in the face of horrible circumstances was truly inspiring. He is missed every day.
A part of Mike’s legacy is the closing of Stateville. His death led to an outpouring of pressure to close Stateville, which in September of this year finally began.
The month of September saw the entire program move to Sheridan Correctional Center outside of Aurora. The relief of the NPEP students was palpable.
For some in the NPEP community, the move to Sheridan was also eye-opening. Anthony Ehlers and Robert Cloutier have been in prison for more than three decades and neither had ever had windows in their cells to look out of or trees on the grounds to be able to touch. It was amazing to have these small amenities.
Cohort 5 was also brought to Sheridan and began their classes fall quarter. The entire NPEP community has been doing all it can to help Cohort 5 feel supported. They are all smart, and excited to begin their educational journey.
NPEP graduates and students celebrating with Northwestern President Michael Schill and Jennifer Lackey after she was honored with the Daniel I. Linzer Award for Faculty Excellence in Diversity and Equity. (photo credit: XX)
NPEP hosted an art event with the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Visibility Initiative. This is a student-led organization working to promote diversity and mental health through shared encounters with art and aesthetics. Students created art pieces with the prompt, “What do you want to be known about yourself, past, present, or future?” The exhibit was a hit, and the art was acclaimed.
Also, this year NPEP launched its first issue of the Northwestern Insider, a magazine for and by NPEP students filled with personal essays, op-eds, critiques, poems, fiction, and reviews. Its first issue was critically acclaimed and nominated for an award. Issue #2 is dedicated to our beloved brother, Michael Broadway.
It has been a remarkable year, and what’s most exciting is that this coming year promises to be just as extraordinary! There will be more graduations and history-making events. I would also like to say that without the dedication of the NPEP staff and volunteers, none of this would be possible. Be on the lookout for NPEP students doing amazing things.