At Lansing Correctional Facility, UMKC students and incarcerated people transform a prison into a classroom, with philosophical discussions taking center stage.
The Philosophy In Prison Program has been ongoing since 2015. It was established by Clancy Martin, a UMKC philosophy professor, and former UMKC student Cindy Harvey, now a philosophy professor.
Many students continue to volunteer and remain involved long after they graduate. Kevin Caldwell, a UMKC philosophy and sociology graduate is now the director of the Philosophy in Prison Program.
“It’s a great learning experience for the volunteers and the inmates,” said Caldwell. “I always walk away having learned something new.”
Martin and Harvey founded it because they wanted students to be able to share their love of philosophy with incarcerated people.
The idea of offering incarcerated people the opportunity to study philosophical texts and engage in philosophical thinking was inspired by the fact that many renowned philosophers spent time in prison.
“The guys at Lansing struggle with feeling inadequate and feeling like they don’t fit in with society,” said Martin. “People don’t respect them, and the fact that students come up there and show them respect and that they care about their opinions and intelligence really helps them.”
Martin shared that he is proud of UMKC’s students for continuing the program he started almost a decade ago.
“Many incarcerated people consider this program one of the best educational experiences they’ve ever had,” said Martin.
Martin said that this program greatly benefits mental health and gives those who are incarcerated a feeling of personal growth and transformation.
Incarcerated people are provided with texts within their area of interest, from poetry, feminism-based texts and Indigenous American philosophy.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about inmates. People forget that they are just people who made mistakes,” said Martin. “This program is a safe space for them.”
If you’re interested in joining the Prison in Philosophy Program, you can learn more here and contact Clancy Martin at [email protected]
