Executive Director, Petey Greene Program

BACKGROUND ON THE PETEY GREENE PROGRAM

Founded in 2008, the Petey Greene Program (PGP) operates the largest multi-state tutoring program for people who are currently or formerly incarcerated. The PGP is named after Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene, Jr., a formerly incarcerated 1960s community activist and media personality in Washington D.C., who dedicated his life to advocacy for racial and social justice. The PGP continues this legacy by providing and advocating for the highest quality education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, and educating volunteers on the injustice manifest in our carceral system. Since its founding, the PGP has tutored 16,000 students in over 50 correctional facilities and reentry programs, recruiting over 3,200 volunteer tutors from 30 universities in seven states and the District of Columbia. During the pandemic, the PGP has shifted to virtual tutoring where possible.

In July 2020, the PGP adopted a new three-year strategic plan, which articulates an expansion from only supplementing existing prison education programs, to also implementing and advocating for high-quality pre-collegiate education for incarcerated people. The PGP also extended its programming through reentry, and is committed to becoming an organization that elevates, supports, and is led by formerly incarcerated and system-impacted people. To position the PGP for sustainability and scale, the strategic plan also calls for expanding to a fee for service model, covering regional expenses with regional revenue, enabling the PGP to invest unrestricted philanthropic support in quality enhancements at a national level, including positions dedicated to training and coaching tutors, managing operations, and evaluating programs.

THE ROLE

The PGP is looking for an Executive Director who is an experienced social entrepreneur, with expertise in implementing fee for service models, as well as foundation fundraising. They should be well-versed in the field of criminal justice, with a commitment to expanding access to education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, while engaging college student volunteers in the work of reimagining the criminal legal system. The PGP’s next executive director must be an adept networker and fundraiser, with the ability to promote the PGP to a variety of audiences, from prison educators, to funders, higher education leaders, and think tanks. The executive director currently has eight direct reports.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The PGP is at an exciting moment in its history: It is part of a growing network of social justice organizations and academic institutions committed to ensuring that incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people have access to the high-quality educational opportunities that they need to thrive, both during and after incarceration. Working at the intersection of current social justice movements and the reinstatement of Pell Grants for incarcerated learners, the PGP is already shaping the national conversation about education in carceral spaces, and it is well-positioned to grow both operationally and in its influence on policy and practice. This is a rare opportunity for a highly skilled leader to join a vibrant organization and lead a passionate and dedicated team, bolstered by an enthusiastic volunteer base, in the work of creating a more just and free society.

Learn more and apply.