Adult Education Resources

Radical Imagination and the Political Consciousness is a weekly evening discussion-based course on Wednesdays from 6-8pm geared towards formerly incarcerated people centered around the theme of consciousness in history, literature, film, and art. This course will explore how our experiences influence how we see the world and moments in which we come to a place of greater clarity about the society we live in, its injustices, and what changes are necessary. Consciousness raising is key to imagining and creating the worlds we want to live in. Throughout the course, students will examine novels, poetry, speeches, short stories, memoirs, movies, and other media from various traditions including revolutionary writings by incarcerated people to come away with a greater sense of self, agency, and justice.

This course is led by Princeton SPEAR (Students for Prison Education, Abolition and Reform), a student organization that educates, advocates, and agitates against the carceral state on Princeton’s campus, in New Jersey, and beyond. SPEAR is committed to centering and uplifting the voices of those directly impacted by the carceral state, which is why we will be centering works by incarcerated people. It is critical to highlight the perspectives of incarcerated people as some of the most critical analyses of our society and visions for justice come from those held in prisons and jails across the U.S, what currently incarcerated Black queer activist Stephen Wilson termed the imprisoned black radical tradition. By exploring these themes, this course will help students develop important skills such as writing, communication, self-empowerment, self-reflection, and critical thinking, as well as practical life skills. This class wants to meet the needs of formerly incarcerated people, so we will provide resources related to housing, welfare, medicaid, computer skills, financial literacy, and educational access based on feedback from students. We also hope to provide personalized support and connections to outside resources based on each students’ individual need.

Classes will be led by Princeton professors and undergraduates in African American Studies, sociology, theater, and literature. Each class will consist of three sections. The first section will be devoted to the texts for the week, the second to practical skills, and the third will consist of reflection and meditation. Classes will be held in-person with virtual options. Students will engage in activities such as writing for homework and close reading. Each week, we will also invite a guest speaker to give a short talk and help facilitate conversation about the text for that week. Weekly assignments will consist of readings and optional journal entries. After class, students have the option of staying for a community dinner and an opportunity to connect with classmates and facilitators in a more informal setting.

All participants will receive for free:

• Transportation to and from Princeton University

• Physical and digital copies of selected readings

• A binder to store class materials

• A reflection journal and writing utensils

• Access to resources related to life skills such as technology and financial literacy, welfare, medicaid, housing, etc.

• Community dinner after class

We invite students to attend every session and engage fully in the texts and class discussions.

Practical Skills to Cover:

• Zoom

• Email

• Financial Literacy

• Admissions

• ASAP Internship Program

• Tabs on computer

• Audiobooks

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