Mary Gates Endowment for Students

Inaya "Ven" Lala

Project

Advocacy with Incarcerated Populations

I am a community program sponsor at the Monroe Correctional Complex within the Twin Rivers Unit. I work with the Concerned Lifers Organization, a group of incarcerated individuals serving long and life term sentences, on legislative agendas, community networking, and internal logistics planning for events. Additionally, I organize with system-impacted folks outside of carceral institutions through my role as the chair of Huskies for Opportunities in Prison Education (HOPE).

What I learned

I learned the importance of careful communication within government institutions and about the struggles that incarcerated individuals regularly face.

Advice for future applicants

Your passion will always come through in your application, so be authentic!

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