John Jay’s Prisoner Reentry Institute (PRI) is known for building positive pathways for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. And, on June 4, PRI and John Jay celebrated another successful milestone, the inaugural graduation ceremony for the Navigator Certificate in Human Services and Community Justice. This graduation is the culmination of a 16-week, college-level program that integrates the theory and ethics of human services with essential professional skills.

The celebration included: President Karol V. Mason and Provost Yi Li; esteemed Navigator Certificate instructors and staff, such as C. Jama Adams, Ph.D., Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., and Fern Chan; Sarah Cassel from the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), the program funder and valued partner; keynote speaker John Valverde, CEO of YouthBuild; and most importantly, the Navigator Certificate students along with their friends and family.

“This is the result of the many people that are here in the room,” said Ann Jacobs, Executive Director of PRI, as she welcomed the group to the event. “We’re so grateful for all of the ways that so many people in the College supported us getting to this point.” She followed that by introducing President Mason, who was eager to address the inaugural Navigator Certificate cohort herself.

“Growing up my parents instilled in me the value of an education, an unwavering sense of perseverance, and a deep commitment to service,” said Mason. “I see all of those qualities in our Navigator Certificate graduates.” She went on to tell the graduates about her mother’s own story of perseverance, fighting to become a teacher in the 1950s as a black woman. “She had a college degree and two master’s degrees. But instead of being able to put her education to good use, and become a teacher, she had to work as a domestic, cleaning other people’s houses,” said Mason. “Back then, black people were not allowed to teach on Long Island, New York. My mother and another woman had to get the NAACP to file a law suit on their behalf. But their perseverance paid off. They won the case and my mother was able to become a teacher. That same spirit of perseverance and determination lies within each one of you. Keep your life goals close to your heart and clear in your head, because you can reach them.”

Mason was followed by Elena Sigman, Director of Collaborative Learning at PRI, who focused her remarks on the Program’s employer partners and the students, many of whom were already entering the human services field. “Tonight we celebrate our hardworking students who put so much into their learning and growth over the whole semester. We’re very proud of what you’ve accomplished. Many of you are already working with PRI’s College Initiative, taking steps toward more higher education opportunities, and putting these skills to work on the job,” said Sigman. “Thank you graduates for making this a stellar inaugural cohort, and for sharing your feedback so that we can continue to strengthen the program.”  

Cassel, Program Manager for MOCJ, told the audience that she was honored to be a partner with the Navigator Certificate Program, and that she was also grateful for having the opportunity to learn with the students in one of their classes. “I still remember the lesson that I learned during that class, it was about the thing that makes culture so powerful, which is that it’s invisible. This idea made me think more critically about all the cultures that we all are constantly interacting with every day—work culture, family culture, sports teams, and religious groups.” said Cassel. She went on to say that these spaces change how we behave, and yet are often invisible to those within the culture. But, that it was possible to decode and demystify the norms and rules that often seem immovable.

“When I left the class that night, I was struck by a powerful image. I thought about a stone and when the stone is thrown into a body of water. You can see all the many ripples that emanate from that one new motion that’s been added to the system. I feel like this program is creating these ripples of goodness throughout the world—beginning with the students in the program and their personal and professional growth that they’re experiencing in this course, and moving all the way out into their families, and the individual clients and communities that they touch every day.”

One of the evening’s most powerful speakers was John Valverde, CEO of YouthBuild, an inspiring man who spent 16 years in prison, and has become the first formerly incarcerated CEO of a non-profit with a global mission. He told the graduates exactly where his steadfast value of making a difference in the world came from—his parents. When he was incarcerated, his father, who passed away before his release, told Valverde to take 100 percent responsibility for his choices and to always say “yes” to helping others. “My mom is 81 years old, 4 foot 10, and she’s my hero. She still works full-time by her choice, and I’m grateful for the work ethic that I inherited from her. She visited me every other week, for the 16 years that I was in prison. She told me, ‘Move forward. Don’t look back.’ And that’s what I’ve done with my life,” said Valverde.

“Don’t live in the past, but don’t forget what you’ve already overcome. You are stronger than the average person. Don’t ever forget that.” He told the audience to be careful who they associated with, because “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. You want to be better at something? Surround yourself with people who are better at what you want to be better at.” And, he reminded them to always revisit their own personal values—his values being leadership, freedom, and making a difference. Valverde finished his thoughts with one of his favorite quotes, “Life isn’t about being free from struggle, it’s about living a life worth struggling for.”

The Navigator Certificate students themselves had a lot of praise for the program and the instructors and staff who guided them on their journey. One student said, “The program helped me learn how to conduct myself in a more professional capacity and to be more of a resource to others. It’s helping me become a leader amongst leaders.” While another student highlighted his transformation from the criminal justice system. “The transition from prison to an academic environment is challenging,” he said. “In the prison environment, you are told everything, but this course requires that I seek information out for myself.”