Celia Hernandez, Contributing Photographer

The Yale Undergraduate Prison Project hosted its third drop-in library session of the fall on Saturday afternoon. Held at the New Haven Free Public Library, their program offers free, one-on-one technology and resume support to formerly incarcerated individuals and other New Haven community members. 

The program, initiated by Kanyinsola Anifowoshe ’23, began hosting bimonthly sessions last spring with the goal of decreasing the digital divide that incarcerated individuals often face, especially after long sentences. This semester’s sessions are organized by Martine Dosa ’26 and Celene Bennett ’26, the current program leaders, in collaboration with Seth Godfrey, the business, job and nonprofit services librarian at NHFPL. They are held on one Tuesday evening and Saturday afternoon each month. 

“People who are impacted by the criminal legal system are often left behind or forgotten about or not spoken to as if they have all the experience and wisdom that they do,” Bennett said. “Every single person I’ve encountered in these sessions has been so wonderful and so open. They have a drive to learn and move forward, which I think is something that should be supported.”

Bennett and Dosa are focused on increasing outreach and partnerships to inform more people about their sessions, a task that is difficult when the target audience often does not have reliable access to technology.

Currently, YUPP partners with EMERGE Connecticut — a social enterprise that assists formerly incarcerated people find employment and integrate back into their communities — as well as local halfway houses and reentry programs. The NHFPL also has a Job Resources Board advertising YUPP’s services, along with other employment-prep opportunities and resources.  

“It took me a while to open back up to people again, and the people in the program make it very easy for me, they make me very relaxed. Not everyone has a pleasant personality. But, they’re all so caring,” Abdullah Shabazz, who attended sessions regularly in the spring to share the poetry he wrote throughout his 30 years of incarceration, said. “I can tell them what the poem is about, the condition I was in when I wrote it. They’re very professional and I appreciate them.”

Correctional facilities frequently restrict or deny inmates access to the internet and technology for security reasons, leaving incarcerated individuals unable to experience technology in the same way most people do. 

This lack of digital literacy makes reentry into a technology-dependent society all the more challenging. Without basic technological skills, people are unable to apply for jobs online and struggle to navigate modern society. 

“There was a gentleman who came in here a few months ago who had recently been released from incarceration. When he discovered you had to apply for jobs online he threw his hands up in the air and walked out,” Jeff Williams, NHFPL technology programs librarian, said. 

The NHFPL offers similar one-on-one appointments with staff members for technology and employment help, although Williams emphasized that the library itself does not have nearly enough resources to fulfill the demands of the New Haven community. 

Even with nonprofit organizations such as YUPP providing additional assistive resources, community needs are not always met due to logistical constraints. Godfrey highlighted that Yale students have a summer vacation, but that doesn’t mean demands for help are any less during those months. 

“A lot of these problems seem really big and systemic and out of the control of us as individuals, and it can lead to feelings of apathy or hopelessness, but the library is a place where we can actually take action to help people,” NHFPL Librarian Andrew Lindgren-Robertson said.

The NHFPL also offers two free beginner-level computer classes to the public at the Ives Main Library. The basement of the Ives Main Library is also home to 16 publicly available desktop computers, more than any other branch of the NHFPL has available. Yet, patrons often have to wait in line for computers to become available, especially during the winter, according to Williams. 

“Lifelong learning and providing tools so that people feel empowered in what they’re doing so that they’re able to be autonomous decision-makers is really important,” Dosa said, highlighting the importance of current library resources.  

The next YUPP resume and tech support session will be held at the Ives Main Library at 133 Elm St. from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Oct. 22. 

Correction, Oct. 20: The previous version of the article incorrectly transcribed Bennett’s words.

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CELIA HERNANDEZ