In 2022, Art4Giving donated to The Last Mile, a nonprofit located in San Francisco prepares incarcerated individuals for successful reentry through business and technology training.
The Last Mile (TLM) program is the first U.S. prison education program of its kind. They have successfully implemented a software engineering training program in 17 men’s, women’s, and youth facilities across six states.
TLM believes that jobs are the key to breaking the cycle of incarceration. Their approach is based on the premise that successful re-entry must begin during incarceration and continue post-release with employment. Their training is designed so that prisoners can develop sought-after technology skills that are relevant and competitive in today’s business environment.
The Last Mile in a few numbers:
- 24 classrooms across six states.
- 974 students and counting since 2010.
- 379 returned citizens who have successfully rejoined society.
- The Last Mile graduates boast a 0% recidivism rate.
“The Last Mile’s ability to provide opportunities for personal and professional growth for justice-impacted populations is possible due in large part to the generosity of donors like Art4Giving. With previous funding, we’ve been able to expand our program to new states, develop new coursework, launch innovative new programs like our Chromebook Laptop Program, and continue to grow our reentry services. We look forward to using this funding to further expand our reach and impact as we seek to bring the best opportunities possible to those in our community.”
– Sydney Heller. The Last Mile, Executive Director
