January Series 2019 Kicks Off with Overview of Calvin Prison Initiative

The Calvin Prison Initiative began several years after a professor of historical theology at Calvin Theological Seminary learned that inmates at Handlon Correctional Facility wanted to take a few classes to build their faith and change the culture of prison life.

At first, individual classes were held on Tuesday nights. Then, inspired by a similar initiative at Angola Prison in Louisiana, Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary partnered to offer an official bachelor degree behind bars starting in 2016. This innovative ministry will be the subject of the first presentation at this year’s January Series of noontime lectures.

This annual lecture series is offered by Calvin College. Talks will be held at 12:30 p.m. on weekdays from Jan. 3 through 23 in the Calvin College Covenant Fine Arts Center auditorium. They will also be live-streamed to more than 50 remote locations and will be available online in an audio-only format.

“I plan to showcase the program, offer some history, and discuss how it came together,” said Todd Cioffi, director of the Calvin Prison Initiative, who will give the opening address. “I’ll also talk about how an initiative such as this creates a ripple effect. It begins to change the culture from the inside out.”

At Handlon, students in the program are becoming leaders and mentoring and tutoring other prisoners. Students, and now graduates, have started a garden so that they can donate food to a women’s shelter; they have also taken part in the Locks of Love program, in which people grow and donate their hair to make wigs for people with cancer.

“They are becoming agents of changing the culture in prison,” said Cioffi. “We are being able to make the case for this model taking hold in other prisons. It is a huge deal and can help set the tone for prison reform.”

This is just one of several important topics that will be addressed in this year’s series. Additional speakers will provide insight on polarization in politics, immigration, race in America, sexual abuse, climate justice, and several other issues.

Rachael Denhollander, an advocate and educator who became known internationally as the first woman to publicly accuse former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar, of sexual assault, is one of the featured presenters. This year, she was named one of TIME Magazine’s100 Most Influential People in the World.

Mary Robinson, president of Ireland from 1990-1997, is also in the lineup. She is widely regarded as a groundbreaking and transformational leader who elevated the public role of the Irish presidency. She helped to shape modern Ireland in a period of rapid and unprecedented economic growth. Following her tenure as president, Robinson went on to serve as the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Also in the lineup is Nicholas Kristof, a columnist for the New York Times and winner of two Pulitzer Prizes.

Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict with NBC, Jenna Bush Hager is no longer able to fulfill her commitment to speak at the 2019 January Series. Her twin sister, Barbara Pierce Bush, has agreed to fill her spot on Thursday, Jan. 10.

Barbara is the co-founder of Global Health Corps and co-author of Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life, which takes readers on a personal journey behind the scenes of what it is like to be born into a political dynasty, revealing never-before-told stories about the Bush family, and uncovering the enduring sisterly bond that kept them sane through it all.

See the full lineup of speakers and find a remote viewing location near you by visiting www.calvin.edu/january.

You can also click into the audio-only option once that day’s presentation is about to begin.