For more than a decade, Adopt an Inmate has focused on one simple but powerful idea: meaningful human connection changes lives.

Through various forms of correspondence, we have connected thousands of people on the outside with incarcerated individuals seeking friendship, encouragement, accountability, and support. That work remains at the heart of who we are.

Over the last several months, however, Rick and I have been asking an important question:

Where can Adopt an Inmate make the greatest impact?

The answer has become increasingly clear.

Our work has grown naturally out of our long-running Letters From Prison blog series. From the beginning, we’ve believed that if people want to understand incarceration, they need to hear directly from those living it. Statistics, policies, and research are important, but they can never fully replace the insight that comes from a real person’s story told in their own words.

Over the years, we’ve seen how powerfully those stories can challenge assumptions and foster empathy. That belief now serves as the foundation of our growing Letters From Prison: In the Classroom initiative.

What we’ve learned through these collaborations is that they do far more than connect students with incarcerated people. They create opportunities for learning, critical thinking, professional development, and meaningful dialogue about justice, rehabilitation, and human dignity. They also give incarcerated participants the opportunity to share their experiences, expertise, and perspectives in ways that can inform and inspire future professionals.

As a result, we are beginning to intentionally center more of our work around education, mentorship, communication, and community engagement. This is not a departure from our mission. It is a natural evolution of it.

For the remainder of 2026, we plan to keep the program intentionally small, focusing on a limited number of pilot partnerships while we continue developing materials, workflows, expectations, and sustainable funding models. We want to grow thoughtfully and responsibly, ensuring that every partnership is meaningful for both students and incarcerated participants.

We’re also working to align other mentoring initiatives, including Pros & Cons, with this broader educational vision. As we continue developing the program, we hope to recruit volunteers from a variety of professional backgrounds who are willing to share their knowledge, experience, and encouragement with incarcerated individuals interested in similar career paths and areas of study.

To support this direction, we’ve launched a dedicated Letters From Prison: In the Classroom page on our website, along with an interest form for educators, students, and community partners who would like to learn more.

If you know a professor, teacher, department chair, student organization, researcher, or community group that may be interested in participating, we would be grateful if you would share the page with them.

This new chapter is exciting. It is also ambitious. But it feels deeply aligned with who we are, what we’ve learned, and where we believe our organization can make the greatest difference.

Thank you for being part of the journey.

— Rick & Melissa
Co-Founders, Adopt an Inmate