Shining Light Inc

WE UNLOCK HUMAN POTENTIAL IN AMERICAS PRISONS BY PROVIDING SOCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH ARTS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

2023 WAS THE THIRD YEAR OF THE SHINING LIGHT ACADEMY (SLA). IT IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED RE-ENTRY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO LOWER RECIDIVISM AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH WELLNESS. THE SLA FOCUSES ON TRANSFORMING PARTICIPANTS AND PRISON ENVIRONMENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP AND PRACTICE PROSOCIAL MINDSETS, BEHAVIORS, AND ASSOCIATIONS. THE SLA INCORPORATES AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATION OF RESEARCH TO DELIVER COMPREHENSIVE AND ENGAGING PROGRAMMING PRIMARILY THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING. IN ADDITION, THE SLA IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING CONTINUITY OF CARE BY PROVIDING GRADUATES WITH SOCIAL SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THEIR INCARCERATION AND UPON THEIR RELEASE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. AS A RESULT, GRADUATES ARE ABLE TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL AS THEY ENGAGE WITH THEIR FAMILIES, IN EDUCATION/VOCATIONAL AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES AT LARGE.THE SLA OFFERED 28 COURSES IN 8 PRISONS IN NORTH DAKOTA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND OHIO IN 2023. GRADUATES INCREASED FROM 54 INDIVIDUALS IN 2021 TO 105 IN 2022 TO 133 IN 2023. SHINING LIGHTS BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE, THE LOOP PROMOTES POSITIVE INTERACTION AMONG PEOPLE IN PRISONS WHO WANT TO ENGAGE IN CONSTRUCTIVE INFORMATION, ACTIVITIES, AND RELATIONSHIPS DURING THEIR INCARCERATION. DESIGNED AS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION BETWEEN INCARCERATED PARTICIPANTS, RETURNED CITIZENS, AND STAFF OF SHINING LIGHT, CONTENT IS FOCUSED ON REINFORCING THE EVIDENCE-BASED PERSPECTIVES, TOOLS, AND SKILLS OF ALL SHINING LIGHT PROGRAMMING. DISTRIBUTION GREW FROM 841 INDIVIDUALS SUBSCRIBED TO THE MAGAZINE IN DECEMBER 2021 TO 1,880 IN DECEMBER 2022 TO 4,850 IN DECEMBER 2023. BULK COPIES DISTRIBUTED GREW FROM 1,500 MAILED TO 60 PRISONS IN 8 STATES IN DECEMBER 2021 TO 3,500 MAILED TO 61 PRISONS IN 22 STATES IN DECEMBER 2022 TO 4,135 MAILED TO PRISONS IN 2023.SHINING LIGHT'S CONTENT ON ELECTRONIC TABLETS WAS EXPANDED IN 2022. SLS CREATIVE PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES, ARTIST NETWORK, AND EXPERIENCE IN ATTRACTING PRISON AUDIENCES HAVE EQUIPPED SL TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, GROWTH-ORIENTED CONTENT THAT ENGAGES INDIVIDUALS IN PRISON ON THIS NEW AND RAPIDLY EVOLVING TOOL. IN 2022, CONTENT AVAILABILITY EXPANDED TO 240+ PRISONS IN 35 STATES. OVER 10,000 COURSE COMPLETIONS WERE DOCUMENTED. PARTNERSHIPS WITH TABLET AND SOFTWARE COMPANIES AND VARIOUS STATE ADMINISTRATORS TO EXPAND THE DISTRIBUTION & USAGE OF SL CONTENT CONTINUE TO BE DEVELOPED. USAGE OF TABLET PROGRAMMING INCREASED WITH OVER 28,000 COURSE COMPLETIONS OF 25 COURSES OFFERED IN OVER 400 PRISONS IN OVER 40 STATES.