Volunteer Opportunities in Cheshire, Niantic and Uncasville

UConn Extension People Empowering People (PEP) Correctional Institute (CI) Program 

Trish and Edna standing in front of the prison
Trish Spofford, left, and Edna Johnson, one of the PEP volunteers at the York Correctional Institution.
Photo courtesy of Trish Spofford.

UConn Extension People Empowering People CI is seeking volunteer facilitators to go into the Cheshire Correctional Institution, York Correctional Institution and Corrigan Correctional Center to facilitate UConn Extension PEP CI on a weekly basis. The UConn PEP CI program mission is to draw from the unique strengths, life experiences and capacities of each participant to build a community of mutual support from which participants gain skills and confidence to aid their rehabilitation and keep them out of prison.

The volunteer facilitators will work together as a team and lead a series of 15-17 2-hour sessions to a group of 10-15 inmates. Sample sessions include Empowerment, Values, Communication, Problem Solving, and Managing Conflict, Coping Strategies, Healthy Relationships, Goal Setting and Preparing for My Next Job.  Schedule of days and times of the volunteer opportunity vary by location. UConn Extension will provide training for the volunteer facilitators chosen for the program. Please email pep@uconn.edu for more information and to request an application. You can also visit the UConn PEP CI website at: https://pep.extension.uconn.edu/pepci/

UConn complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination, equal opportunity, affirmative action, and providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Contact: Office of Institutional Equity; (860) 486-2943; equity@uconn.edu; http://www.equity.uconn.edu.