history of cOre

Serving as the direct inspiration for Unlocking Education, Challenge of Reevaluating Equity was formed in 2023 by James Williams and Michael Roach, two inmates in Anamosa State Penitentiary. It originally began as a means to fill a gap in service and care within the prison system. CORE established a safe space for men to share and learn from each other in a therapeutic setting, led by other inmates.

CORE has been offered to incarcerated men at Anamosa State Penitentiary since April 4, 2023.

According to CRE group leaders,

“In a world where errors and mistakes are a part of life, we believe that they may become the foundation of wisdom that can be a benefit for others. Our vision is to help men become leaders, through both formal and informal education, and to help them find their path and walk it with confidence. We work as a community to help educate and inform each other, and speak about things that add value to our lives.

Our mission is to help men recognize their roles as leaders. What we entertain is what we make important, and what we make important becomes the foundation upon which we build our lives. Through our program, individuals learn how to take responsibility for their thought process, make better decisions when confronted with difficult choices while incarcerated and upon release, and take accountability for their actions with respect for themselves and others” (Evans, 2024).