Jail literacy program gets a lifeline

A nonprofit organization that was running out of money for literacy classes for inmates in a local jail got a financial lifeline last week after the public donated money to keep it going through the summer, when a more permanent cash stream could become available.

The program run by Indy Reads for prisoners in Marion County Jail II and for ex-offenders at a handful of other locations around the city lost its grant funding recently, forcing the local adult literacy nonprofit to pull money from its work in other areas — an effort Indy Reads said wasn’t sustainable beyond the spring.

But after a story in The Star last month highlighted the situation, one reader offered Indy Reads $3,000 for a matching grant challenge. An impromptu social media campaign ensued, bringing in $4,000. The $7,000 should keep the program going through the end of summer.

“The main thing right now is that it is a stopgap. It doesn’t save the program entirely, but it buys us more time,” said Travis DiNicola, executive director of Indy Reads, which was pulling money from its other programs to fund the jail classes. He said a foundation has expressed interest in supporting the effort, but it could take a few months before their money will be available.

“This buys us two more months, at least. And that gives us two more months to find other sources of funding,” he said. “Most importantly, it is money we don’t have to take from our other programs.”

Indy Reads has worked with 450 prisoners over the past three years, providing them help with their reading, writing and interpersonal skills. The idea is to help the students gain skills to make them more employable once they are released. The program costs more than $75,000 because of expenses ranging from classroom supplies and consultants to a full-time worker and the partial time of three Indy Reads staffers who recruit and train volunteers and coordinate their work.

In addition to the money, DiNicola said the effort has brought new attention to the work Indy Reads is doing with prisoners and ex-offenders. “A lot of people who did not know we were in jails said they think it just makes economic sense to provide men and women who are in jail with these services,” he said. “The best way to keep them from going back into jail afterward is to give them some options.”

Star reporter Robert King covers public safety and crime prevention. Call him at (317) 444-6089. Follow him on Twitter: @RbtKing.