Discusses the benefits of a prison education program where traditional college students take classes with incarcerated students. Jennifer A. Schlosser, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Coastal Carolina University. Her research with and advocacy for incarcerated people spans the last 15 years and had been published in several academic journal articles, a book, and an edited volume. Dr. Schlosser’s work seeks to incorporate the voices of incarcerated people to inform changes in correctional and prison policy toward the pursuit of social justice within and beyond the carceral system. Her activism likewise involves advocating for incarcerated peoples’ right to education and her latest work focuses on developing college courses that blend campus-based students and incarcerated students as classmates. Students in these classes not only learn academic material alongside one another, but they are also able to learn the importance of compassion, empathy, and community from one another. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx