By Brian Dolinar

We are excited to share the news that we have chosen our first ever cohort of EJP Alumni Fellows. The new fellowship program is intended to enrich EJP’s efforts to support critical awareness of issues related to higher education in prison, incarceration, and reentry, while supporting EJP alumni in the development of professional and leadership skills. During their year-long tenure, the fellows will present at conferences, give public talks, participate in panel discussions, and engage with the media. They will also participate in trainings and workshops to sharpen their skills. 

All four 2024-5 fellows participated in EJP programming at Danville Correctional Center. Since being released, they have continued to demonstrate their commitment to EJP’s mission and values. The cohort includes:

• David “Happy” Todd, founder of Clippers Change Communities, a personal care service initiative, and currently a student at Roosevelt University planning to graduate in Fall 2025 with a major in Business Administration.

• Emmett Sanders, Policy and Advocacy Associate at Prison Policy Initiative, a non-profit organization that produces cutting edge research on mass incarceration. 

• Steven Scotti, EJP Advisory Council and RRP Advisory Committee.  

• Erick Nava, coordinator of EJP’s Scholarships program and Reentry Emergency Fund, and co-founder of Mexipets, a non-profit animal rescue organization. 

This team will articulate the impact of incarceration and reentry from their own lived experience.

“I think it’s important to understand that there is life beyond incarceration,” Steven Scotti wrote in his application letter. “People need to know that we are not paralyzed by our past. But we are prepared by it. And this story needs to be shared.” Society still needs to understand there is a counter narrative, Scotti said. “And that narrative is still being written.” 

David “Happy” Todd applied to be an EJP Fellow because he wanted to “inspire” other incarcerated individuals that there is possibility for a successful life after prison. “I am that living example of that possibility.” 

“I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact EJP has on individuals and communities,” Erick Nava wrote in his application. “My involvement with EJP has not only been a source of personal fulfillment but also a testament to my commitment to educational justice and reform.”

We are proud to celebrate our new EJP Alumni Fellows and look forward to learning from them as they engage the public on key issues.