Inside Out College is a national organization that brings professors and students from prestigious universities INSIDE state prisons to conduct college courses with students from the inmate population.

These are not dumbed-down “prison college” classes but are fully accredited courses—for credit—in which the university students participate as peers with the incarcerated students.

It is impossible to overstate how transformative this experience is for both the “inside” and “outside” students.

One of our designers is an “Inside” student in Pennsylvania. He was so inspired by the experience that he created an Inside Out College design to put on a T-shirt and a Hat. The QR codes in this design point to InsideOutCenter.org and InmateCreate.com to help get the word out about their impact.

Here’s what the designer said about the impact of the Inside Out experience…

“It’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t been in prison. Like, everything in our normal day-to-day life here reminds us that we’re less than and has this message of ‘you’re not worth anything.’

But when we walk into the classroom for Inside Out College, all of that changes. We’re respected for our ideas and for what we contribute to the group. And the outside students actually want to hear our perspectives.

Probably the deepest thing that got to me—one of the only times I shed tears in prison—was at the final class I was in a couple of years ago. Every one of the outside students shared how they were impacted by us in a positive way. And the teacher said it was the best teaching experience she ever had because of us!

I couldn’t believe it. Like, I actually helped them to learn and teach better!

Ever since then, I have changed my mindset. Now, I think, “I can make a difference; I have something good to offer the world.” My future is more powerful than my past. That’s how Inside Out impacted me.”