FW: Prison Education Press Release

[Dianne Tramutola-Lawson]

 

 

From: Christopher Zoukis [mailto:chris...@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 1:29 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Prison Education Press Release

 

Prison Education Advocate Christopher Zoukis Receives Two 2011 PEN American Center Writing Awards

PETERSBURG, Va., May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/

Christopher Zoukis, recipient of two 2011 PEN American Center Writing Awards (drama and fiction), and the author of the definitive reference book on prison education, is currently a federal prisoner at FCI-Petersburg. He is enrolled in college via correspondence through Ohio University.  Christopher is a prisoner, who is student, who is a writer, who is a teacher. He teaches other inmates in his prison’s Education Department, and writes prolifically.

Mr. Zoukis teaches a class titled "Writing and Publishing". The class teaches prisoners the techniques of professional writers, along with how to submit their work, thus giving voice to their literary effort. As a vocational, academic, and practical class, Mr. Zoukis feels that both he and his class are making a difference in the lives of his students and their families. Mr. Zoukis hopes the class will provide prisoners with marketable skills, skills that will keep them from returning to prison.

These prisoners have come to realize that education is the most cost-effective method of reducing recidivism.  In other words, education is their only hope of escaping the revolving door of prison.  Despite their imprisonment and the obstacles that implies, these men want to become productive members of society.  They are eager to learn.  Unfortunately, today’s prisons offer very few academic or vocational programs.

As an outreach, Mr. Zoukis blogs about his class weekly. These blogs contain his preparation for each week's class, the methodology of the actual teaching, his struggles as both a prisoner and a prison-educator, and the resounding growth and success that the class facilitates. The blog also includes guest-blogs by other prison education experts and keeps the reader abreast of other educational endeavors that Mr. Zoukis is participating in. Current endeavors include the preparation and approval process for a monthly "Correspondence Course Seminar” and an educational communiqué entitled Education Behind Bars Newsletter.  

Mr. Zoukis is available for interviews and may be contacted at:  chris...@gmail.com.

--
Christopher Zoukis
P.O. Box 1000, #22132-058
Petersburg, VA 23804
Email: chris...@gmail.com
Website: www.christopherzoukis.com
Blog: http://www.christopherzoukis.com/prison-education-blog/
Twitter: @czoukis

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