Blog

Through the transformative power of prison-based arts education, Wyatt Reed shares his journey of reclaiming a lost identity, confronting addiction, and rediscovering purpose through creative expression.

In this powerful Second Chance Month essay, Alexander Bolling reflects on his journey from silence to self-expression while incarcerated.

When Alazaron “Laz” Sargeant discovered the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish through a library brought into his prison unit, it sparked a deeper search for meaning—and a powerful wave of creative expression.

In this JSTOR’s Second Chance Month essay, Allen Ivanov reflects on the liberating and isolating power of education in prison, exploring how knowledge—through Shakespeare and critical inquiry—becomes both a burden and a path to self-reclamation.

In 1995, JSTOR launched with a mission that felt radical at the time: digitize scholarly journals and make them accessible online to researchers and educators everywhere.

In this JSTOR’s Second Chance Month essay, Shane Moffat reflects on early school experiences, the sensory memories of his bus rides, and his enduring love for education. Through vivid storytelling, he challenges readers to consider access, equity, and the power of memory—even behind prison walls.

JSTOR’s Path to Open program continues to expand, offering valuable new resources that support teaching, learning, and research in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. These titles, newly published by our University Press partners, provide scholars and students with access to high-quality academic content across a range of disciplines. By offering a selection of these […]

Explore how Dr. Alexa Alice Joubin builds trust in AI-powered educational tools through open-access models, humanities-based insights, and participatory design—fostering ethical, critical engagement between students and AI in the classroom.

Vy Thang’s reflection on education challenges idealized notions of utopia shaped by historical trauma and incarceration. His story illustrates how liberal arts learning becomes a powerful act of self-discovery, resistance, and community building.

This is JSTOR’s third year of publishing essays, poetry, and artwork from people impacted by incarceration. These stories are as diverse as America itself, yet the humanity explored by these writers remind us of the dreams, aspirations, and connectedness we all share.