Supporting the Transforming Lives Network.

www.ceanational.org

Dear friends.

The work we do to help inmates have access to educational programs is of significant benefit to individuals and also to the whole of society. Since 99% of inmates are eventually released it is an obvious statement to say that our preference is to return inmates to society with the skills, knowledge and understanding to be happy and fulfilled people who do not victimize others, and who do not commit further crimes and return to prison. Unfortunately, this goal is very far from being realized. A State director of correctional education programs told me recently that 'nothing we are doing at present works.' I use his words and not mine. He also told me, after watching a Words of Peace episode, that perhaps it is time to try something like Words of Peace.

TLN was funded by a US department of Education grant up until last year. Since then TLN has been funded by it's subscribers. For around $1100 a year a correctional facility is provided with 18 hours of quality educational programs for inmates and staff, 7 days a week, including 10 hours of Words of Peace episodes per week..

The future of TLN depends on it gaining around another 200 subscribers, and it is projected to reach that number in about 2 years. At present TLN has 300 subscribers and many of the facilities have several thousand inmates. For example, all of California's 33 State facilities subscribe to TLN and the State plans to increase it's sites to include work camps. Until the required number of subscribers is reached TLN is in need of financial support.

TLN has applied for a government grant of $500,000 to pay for the acquisition of a second Channel. The reason I am excited about this is that many inmates around the country are housed in what are called “lock-down” prisons. This means that they remain in their cell for most of the day and that any educational services they may receive, come to them by – guess what – TV, and the Transforming Lives Network.

Tax time is upon us and you may be looking for a worthwhile charity to make a contribution and I urge you to please consider CEA. TLN has an urgent need of funds. If you feel this project is something you would like to support either with a one-time donation or with a regular monthly donation please send your donation, marked “For TLN” to:

The Correctional Education Association

818 Lark Brown Road

Suite 202,

Elkridge, MD 21075

You may want to become a member of CEA also and following is a link to the membership benefits page of the CEA website: http://ceanational.org/benefits.htm

Thank your for your time in considering supporting this very worthwhile project. CEA is a Registered Charity and you will receive a tax receipt for your donation. Reaching the prison population means reaching one percent – 1%- of the US adult population. (see the attached PEW report).

John Holt, (CEA member) Words of Peace Prison Network. P.O Box 50447, Santa Barbara, CA 93150

wppn@wordsofpeace.org Tel: 805-585-4019