I was stunned by their intelligence, impressed by their diligence, moved by their loyalty. At the end of four months, I was unmistakably attached. In fact, I thought of how we might continue meeting; perhaps we could all live on the same street, and we could watch football together and read Shakespeare together. I would play with their children and they would invite me to dinner. We would continue our lively discourse about justice and politics. But it was impossible. I had only four months. I had to return to my college dorm. They returned to their prison cells.
The Grand Valley State University Community Working Classics Program (CWC) was developed by Professor Michael DeWilde during the fall of 1998, with the help and guidance of five GVSU students. The program takes its inspiration, if not its exact form, from the work of author and educator Earl Shorris. His work is chronicled in his book Riches for the Poor: The Clemente Course. (Norton)
With the help of various area agencies, the Program recruited 12 community students for its initial six-week offering in January 1999. 10 of those students attended on a regular basis. Two of those students went on to community college. It has since been offered for 8-10 weeks every semester, with a hiatus from 2006-2008. Attendance has ranged from a low of eight at the original Heartside classes to highs of 18 at other locations. Several community students and inmate-students are now interested in pursuing more formal courses of study through various institutions in Grand Rapids.
The Program expanded to the Muskegon Correctional Facility in May of 1999. Deputy Warden of Programs Mark Malone, along with Program Director Mario Vialpondo, helped us coordinate the program inside the prison. 18 inmates participated in the initial program there, chosen from over 60 applications. The program was originally designed to run two nights a week for seven weeks during the summer of 1999, but it proved so successful it has continued to run since its inception. As of 2009 we began our tenth year of instruction. We average 12 inmate-students in the classes. The demand for courses from inmates is greater than the supply of GVSU faculty or students.
In the Fall of 2000 we were asked to provide this program at the Job Corps facility on Hall St. in Grand Rapids. As of 2006 we were still offering a variety of courses there to students ranging in age from 16-23
It has so far been funded primarily by the Center for Philanthropy at GVSU. The Michigan Campus Compact and the GVSU Philosophy and Liberal Studies Departments have been occasional contributors. The budget covers materials, transportation and conference costs—approximately $6,000 for one academic year. Jerrod Nickels of the University Bookstore has generously donated many of the books used in the program.
In 2001 the program was recognized with a “Faculty Staff Community Service Learning Award” given by the Michigan Campus Compact. In October of 2002 the program was honored by the American Philosophical Association, which awarded it the national APA/PDC “Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Philosophy Programs.”
In January of 2005 a revised version of the CWC titled The Working Classics Leadership Program was awarded a $197,000 grant from The Kellogg Foundation. The grant enabled Prof. DeWilde to focus on developing educational and leadership programs for incarcerated men. The idea is not only to reduce recidivism but, more ambitiously, look for ways these men can begin to take their place as leaders, educators and philanthropists even in their current situation.
Since its inception the program has involved approximately 80 GVSU students, 14 faculty, and several local business leaders. We have offered courses to approximately 200 community students and close to 400 inmates.