The links below will connect you with our collection of videos, articles, and resources about CIU, as well as information referenced on this website.
Highlighted Resources
Free Laundry Support for Asteri Residents Currently Staying in Hotels
Free Laundry Cards
The City of Ithaca, in partnership with OAR (Opportunities, Alternatives & Resources) and local outreach partners, is providing free prepaid laundry cards to support residents relocated from Asteri during this challenging time.
Learn more about eligibility and how to obtain a card here.
Community Health Advocate
Did you know the Human Service Coalition office offers a Community Health Advocate program? The Advocate is there to help patients with the “life” side of health—things like:
- Finding resources for food, housing, and transportation
- Connecting with local community programs
- Navigating insurance or healthcare services
- Getting support with follow-ups and wellness goals
The Coalition believes that good health goes beyond medical care, and the Community Health Advocate is here to make sure patients have the tools and support they need. If you or someone you know could benefit, please reach out—they're here to help! Contact information below.
JD Drader - Health Access Coordinator, Human Services Coalition
Unity House Community Oriented Recovery & Empowerment
Work one on one with a Peer Specialist
in identifying your goals and placing them in motion.
Unity House's Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment (CORE) Services are specialty services that can help you meet your recovery goals. These services are developed to match your personal recovery goals – what is most important to you, how you can reach your personal, professional, and recovery goals, and how to build a network of support.
Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment (CORE) services may be a good fit if you are 21 or older, covered by Medicaid, and enrolled in a Health and Recovery Program (HARP). Additionally, some individuals enrolled in HIV-Special Needs Plans or Medicaid Advantage Plus Plans will be eligible for CORE. Serving Tompkins County.
CALL OR EMAIL:
607-272-1741 ext. 424
Thomas.Yarbrough@unityhouse.
Unity House of Cayuga County
335 Elmira Road, Ithaca, New York 14850
Investing in Prison Education Saves Taxpayer Dollars
A June 2025 report from the Education Commission of the States outlined ways state policymakers can expand access to prison education and, in turn, reduce recidivism and incarceration costs.
Policymakers’ Role in Expanding Prison Education Access summarized findings from an 18-month community of practice that included state education policy leaders, corrections officials, higher education prison program directors, policymakers, and researchers.
Higher Education Today shares the key findings.
Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2025
Can it really be true that most people in jail are legally innocent? How much of mass incarceration is a result of the war on drugs, or the profit motives of private prisons? As criminal legal system reforms become increasingly central to political debate — and are even scapegoated to resurrect old, ineffective “tough on crime” policies — it’s more important than ever that we get the facts straight and understand the big picture.
Explore more in this article from Prison Policy Initiative.
Mental Health Wellbeing, Substance Use Resources and Supports
Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) would like to remind the community of resources available to support your mental health well-being.
Resources are available in our community, 24/7. Their Mobile Crisis Team and CARE Team (co-response law enforcement and mental health services) are available on evenings, weekends and holidays, and can be reached by calling 911 or 988.
If you are experiencing problems with mental health and want to get help now, go to their office at 201 E. Green Street (Ithaca) for Open Access Hours to begin treatment as soon as you walk into our building. Open Access Hours are walk-in, first come first served, and allow you to begin the intake process and see a clinician, no appointment needed. Open Access Hours take place on:
- Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM
- Wednesdays from 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM
In addition to their primary location at 201 E. Green St., downtown Ithaca, TCWH now offers mental health clinical appointments at the 55 Brown Rd. office in Northeast Ithaca, offering free on-site parking, brand new construction and first floor, accessible meeting spaces. Clinicians from both the Adult and Children/Youth teams can meet with clients at this location. Call to schedule an appointment at this location: 607-274-6200.
Learn more about Tompkins County Whole Health’s Mental Health Services by visiting their web page.
For more emergency/crisis and overdose prevention resources, click here.
Videos
Michael Rhynes - CIU 2024 Graduation
Michael Rhynes was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1986. "During his 37-year incarceration, mostly at Attica and Auburn correctional facilities, Rhynes transformed himself from an angry and uneducated young man to an artist, an educator, and a mentor to younger inmates. He co-founded an inmate-run theater company at Auburn, published a book of poems, and got an associate's degree from Cornell University,“ according to an article by Justin Murphy and Eric Craig in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 37 years later, It was revealed that the testimonies that convicted him were fabricated, and he was able to successfully appeal his case on a lack of evidence. Now, he has found a new calling in being a teaching assistant in reading and writing classes at College Initiative Upstate (CIU). Listen to Michael talk about the power of education in his life, and give words of encouragement to the 2024 CIU College Prep graduates.
CIU 2020 Virtual Graduation
This 40 min film celebrates 10 incredible, and courageous college graduates. Produced by "Well Said" Media
Breaking the Cycle: College Initiative Upstate
A short documentary introducing College Initiative Upstate’s staff & students - culminating with a powerful graduation surprise. Special thanks to Barbara Zahm who produced this video!
Re-Imagine the Future: The Journey from Prison to College
Formerly incarcerated College Initiative students in NYC speak to their counterparts in prison about the benefits of attending college after release. This film was shown in pre-release classes for many years. Produced by Jeremy Robins and Benay Rubenstein.
Passport to the Future: Accessing Higher Education in an era of Mass Incarceration
A short video exploring barriers to college admission for applicants with criminal records. Produced by Jeremy Robins and Benay Rubenstein as part of the campaign to Ban the Box on college applications.
The Last Graduation: The Rise and Fall of College Programs in Prison
This award-winning video tells the story of the rise and fall of college programs in NYS Prisons, starting with the Attica Uprising. Produced by Barbara Zahm and Benay Rubenstein.
Articles
Andrew Thuesen: Finding Our Way
In this article by Marjorie Olds, Ithaca.com, learn about the inspiring story about CIU graduate Andrew Theusen.
HR Tool Helps Job Applicants with Criminal Records Land Jobs
This article from the Cornell Chronicle, featuring CIU alum Jodi Anderson, introduces Restorative Records, an online tool where applicants with a criminal record can add details about their past. Photo credit: Heather Ainsworth, Cornell University
Tips to Mastering Hybrid Learning
Learn some tips and tricks to help you master hybrid learning.
Alternative to Incarceration Program Holds Graduation Ceremony
With fanfare and much applause, the CIU graduation ceremony was held for the students of College Initiative Upstate (CIU) at Coltivare on June 6, 2019.
College Initiative Upstate Celebrates Transformation through Education
CIU students honored at the 2019 College Initiative Upstate Graduation Celebration, all of whom overcame court involvement or incarceration to pursue an education.
The Faces of ATIs
Article featuring Samantha Gentz, a CIU honor student who gained the confidence to overcome hurdles and return to college with the support of CIU’s Academic Counselor.
A By the Books Approach to Reentry
2017 local news article highlighting judicial support for CIU as a new program of OAR.
Voices That Must Be Heard: A Peer Response to Systemic Inequality in Upstate New York
CIU's Peer Leadership Group, Voices that Must be Heard, was invited to present at the 2020 Beyond the Bars Conference in New York City. "Voices" Peers Clay Hapstak, Latoya Peterson, and Richard Rivera shared their community projects and personal stories with the audience. The full record of their presentation is available for download here.
I Survived Prison During the AIDS Epidemic, Here's What It Taught Me About Coronavirus
An insightful piece of journalism written by CIU student, Richard Rivera, for The Marshall Project. Rivera speaks about how his experiences in prison during the AIDS Crisis of the early 1980s remind him of the panicked responses he sees to the Coronavirus now.
What Home Means to the Homeless: These Are the Things They Hung On To, When So Many Things Were Lost
Richard Rivera, who has worked with Ithaca’s homeless encampment throughout the Pandemic, spoke with NYT staff photographer Damon Winter on several occasions while he researched this compelling story.
In the Middle of it All
This article tells the story of the collaboration between numerous groups, including OAR, that work with the homeless and low income population in Ithaca.
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Traumatized to Death: The Cumulative Effects of Serial Parole Denials
Traumatized to Death: The Cumulative Effects of Serial Parole Denials written by Richard Rivera, was published in the July 2020 issue of the CUNY LAW REVIEW a student-run publication devoted to producing
New York Giants Players Tour County Jail
In May 2019, the NY Giants football team visited Ithaca to learn what alternatives the county is successfully using to incarceration. In April 2020 – one year after meeting, CIU received a surprise grant from our favorite football team!
Building Pathways of Possibility from Criminal Justice to College: College Initiative as a Catalyst Linking Individual and Systemic Change
In 2011, Susan Sturm wrote a study that documents and analyzes College Initiative’s development from an individual service delivery program into one that links individual and systemic change. Her multi-level research revealed how CI’s involvement with criminal justice and higher education transforms both sides of the relationship.
Changing Minds: The Impact of College in a Maximum Security Prison
This 3-year study was the first Participatory Action Research (PAR) Project on college in prison where incarcerated women at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, most of whom were College Bound students, were trained to do primary research. Read this piece to discover their fascinating findings.
Additional Resources
Jails to Jobs
Jails to Jobs, a Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is an organization that gives ex-offenders the tools they need to find employment. On their website you'll find a step-by-step plan to follow as you carry out your job search. From researching potential employers and writing resumes to handling interviews and more—it's all there, with advice tailored to the special needs of those recently released from jail or prison.
Mass incarceration: The Whole Pie 2020
A comprehensive report, put together by the Prison Policy Initiative, that explains the whole picture of mass incarceration. Read this report to better understand the reasons behind mass incarceration, and its racial disparities, in the United States.
Criminal Justice Alternatives to Incarceration (CJATI) Annual Report, 2019
Written by David Sanders, the Tompkins County Criminal Justice Coordinator, the annual report on the CJATI group highlights areas of growth and stagnation in the fight to reduce incarceration in Tompkins County.
An Open Letter to Our Friends on the Question of Language
In 2005, the NuLeadership Policy Group, led by Eddie Ellis, initiated a campaign to use the word “people” instead of using language such as inmate, convict, prisoner, or felon. This campaign was part of a broader effort “to assist our transition from prison to communities as responsible citizens and to create a more positive human image of ourselves.”