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Vivian Nixon, executive director of College & Community Fellowship, knows firsthand how difficult it can be to try and find purpose after years of incarceration. She chose to dedicate her life to criminal justice by helping women with criminal histories gain access to higher education.
“I had a lot of shame about going to prison, a deep-rooted shame. And I needed to do something where I felt I accomplished something positive that my family could be proud of, that my friends could be proud of, that I could be proud of. I had a very strong desire to get a college education. Most of the services that were being provided to women leaving prison were grounded in low-wage jobs or substance abuse treatment—services that people absolutely need—but College & Community Fellowship was the only organization I was able to find that focused on access to higher education and all the benefits that come with that.”
– Vivian Nixon
These videos are part of our featured series, The Future Is Hers, celebrating the power of women and girls around the world.
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