Jacob came to the United States as a Lost Boy, fleeing the Southern Sudan Civil War. He has made some incredible choices that set him on a path to getting his Ph.D and founded a nonprofit organization. At the time when Tony and Jacob reconnected, CIL was in need of someone to fulfill a position with unique qualifications. The Independent Living network was collaborating with Florida’s Department of Corrections to run a pilot program for inmates who are incarcerated with disabilities. Lindsey Telg, a friend of the podcast, worked with CIL to create an innovative curriculum for inmates with disabilities that would prepare them to be in a position where they can be employed when they got out of prison. More importantly, it would provide these inmates with the foundation to not go back to prison. With this innovative curriculum in hand, they were now in search of an individual who could relate to prisoners, who knew what independent living was, and who could really help to connect with them. Jacob became that person who could fulfill this role.
With the pilot program now complete, Dr. Atem shares his his experience of delivering this unique course to the inmates and the insights he has gained.. On today’s episode, Jacob and Tony debrief on his experience in the prison, what he learned, his experience with the inmates, and what life will be like for them when they get out.
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