Claflin University’s Pathways from Prison Program was recently awarded a one-year $40,000 planning grant from the Laughing Gull Foundation. The Laughing Gull Foundation “is a progressive family foundation rooted in the U.S. South.” The organization’s programming efforts are in the areas of Higher Education in Prison, LGBTQ Equality, and Climate and Environment. In 2019 the Laughing Gull Foundation approved over $1.6 million in grants to over 25 organizations that increase “access to high quality, accredited college courses in prisons.” Laughing Gull Foundation Board President Meg Baesmith noted in 2019, “LGF is proud to continue our investment in the field of higher education in prison. We are excited to see the higher education in prison field grow in the South.”
“Given the Laughing Gull Foundation’s deep commitment to higher education in the South, it is especially exciting for them to recognize Claflin’s work in this space,” noted Dr. Belinda Wheeler, Director of Claflin’s Pathways from Prison Program and Claflin’s Center for Social Justice. “This particular grant, coupled with our U.S. Department of Education Second Chance Pell Program grant, will go a long way to ensuring we are offering currently incarcerated individuals throughout the state of S.C. with exceptional course programming and advising. We look forward to having a very long and successful partnership with this outstanding organization.”