Federal Correctional Institution-Florence Program Graduates Experience the Joy of Accomplishment and Community Support

On December 4, 2025, I witnessed a spiritual reconnection. As I reflected on the experience, my first assumption was that I was transposing onto these men expressions that I was hoping to see. We have a tendency, through affirmation bias, to validate our beliefs by misconstruing what we are experiencing. A few days later, as I shared what I felt with another group of men in a more secure facility at the complex, I was told that my experience was real.

FCI-Florence is a medium security facility that houses over 1000 people. Out of this group, the educational department graduating class of early December totaled 113, with 69 still being in the facility and present for the ceremonies in the FCI gym. The details of the programs or the whereabouts of those who graduated but not in the facility I was not told, nor did I ask. After volunteering for several years in both state and federal facilities, I have found that the most reasonable course is to wait for people who work at the institutions to share what they believe is appropriate. The men had completed GED, CORE, Cabinet Making, Carpentry I & II, and culinary and when I entered were practicing their graduation walk. I was told many had never accomplished anything in an academic environment or ever been recognized for any positive achievement.

Several administrators and educators at the facility were present to celebrate with the graduates and were seated to the left of the presentation area. There were over 60 fellow incarcerated individuals who were either tutors or fellow students involved with the program seated in bleachers directly behind the graduates. Although I have been volunteering leading yoga classes for over a year at FCI, the only person I knew was a man who works at the gym and attends every time I lead a class.

Not knowing any of the people other than the staff, I really struggled as to what I could share with fellow humans that I did not know. I did not know their names, life experiences, what made them happy, what motivated them and what frustrated them. My experience is that folks who are incarcerated must evaluate people all the time as a tool of survival and have a heightened sense of awareness as to when people are being authentic. Also, they did not know who I was or why I had been chosen to appear before them. I did see some look over as the yoga practitioner spoke to me and then introduced me to some staff.

After my talk, the educational staff and administration formed a line to congratulate the graduates. As names were called, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the men in the bleachers yelling out in support of the graduates as they approached the stage. They continued yelling their names and celebrating as they made their way back to the seats.

It was then that some of these men, of different ages and experiences, glanced back to the crowd with that mixture of slight embarrassment yet a smile of immense gratitude for the acknowledgement of their accomplishment. For a second, I witnessed a reconnection with a childlike innocence of being seen for what positive I have done. It was not only one person--almost everyone who graduated that day glanced back, some replying and showing off their certificate—all happening in a gym in the middle of the most secure prison complex in the United States.

 Having spent time at many graduations of fifth graders at Minnequa Elementary, I have seen children receiving positive feedback in public from family and friends, who were yelling and clapping as their child got their moment to shine in front of teachers, peers, and loved ones. Many of us have witnessed the look on a child’s face, that trying to look cool but not being able to hide the elation of the outpouring of love through their smiles and joy!

Reflecting on that moment, I shared my experience the following Monday with the group I facilitate at the United States Penitentiary, STAGES program. We are currently working through the Prison Yoga Project, Yoga Immersion Handbook and engage in both conversation and reflection. We had just talked about trauma and the development of the brain and how yoga increases our embodied awareness and helps connect to the breath as means of slowing down reactivity to access wisdom.

When I asked them their thoughts on whether I had allowed my imagination to bet the best of me, the answer was a resounding no. One young man then shared how, regardless of what he had experienced in his life, the day he graduated, the expressions of joy by both his family and others close to him brought, for even a moment, a genuine feeling of self-worth. He said, “no, you didn’t imagine anything, that was real.”

On Wednesday, December 10^th, I delivered the opening plenary for the Drexel University School of Medicine, Behavioral Health Conference. My topic was reflecting on ourselves through a lens of culture and our lack of awareness, at times, of the amount of judgment in our thoughts.

 I changed the opening of my session to have us reflect on what came to mind about the people who are incarcerated at FCC-Florence, also known as the Alcatraz of the Rockies.  Their answers are what we may all say-words reflecting fear, judgment on the character of those living there and immense sadness as tot heir condition. Then I shared this story, that amid this chaos, there were many moments of genuine joy, a feeling of self-worth. How foreign to think that in this environment, an adult can give himself permission to a childlike celebration for taking a positive step in their lives.

This all coincided with the substance of the talk I gave at the graduation. That by completing their program and sitting in that chair to graduate, they had taken the first step in proving that voice they told them they were not capable, was lying. The ideas the voice was espousing did not come from them, but someone who was wrong and lied to them about their purpose, skills, and self-worth. Just like the rest of us, once we realize this Truth, and get past the lies, then it is up to us to lay the foundation through thoughts, words and actions to a more balanced and peaceful life.

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