Funded by a $45K library grant, a new collaboration with Fairfield University’s Prison Education and Reentry Initiative and EMERGE Connecticut will address technology barriers for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Fairfield University’s DiMenna-Nyselius Library recently secured the $45K grant to support implementation of a pilot technology program for adults reintegrating into society after a prison sentence. The initiative targets individuals who have experienced prolonged disruption from digital access due to incarceration.
The Access to Technology program will provide structured, hands-on skills instruction, technology access, and sustained support in a trusted community environment to help returning citizens build the skills and confidence they need to navigate an increasingly digital world.
"With the support of this grant, we can meet some of the needs of our justice-impacted neighbors while continuing to strengthen Fairfield University's role as a place where education and community extend beyond our campuses," said Don C. Sawyer III, PhD, vice president of Access, Belonging, and Community Engagement and director of the Prison Education and Reentry Initiative, with which the library collaborated on the grant proposal.
Confronting a Digital Divide
Adults returning from incarceration face profound and often overlooked technology barriers that hinder successful reintegration. Because routine tasks—like employment application, benefits enrollment, civic engagement, and communication—increasingly demand digital literacy, individuals who have spent years away from evolving technologies encounter significant obstacles when reentering society.
Consistent with Fairfield University’s Jesuit Catholic mission, the initiative supports learning, personal development, and social inclusion for people impacted by incarceration. The program aims to meet these needs through education, mentorship, and training.
According to Tiara Arnold, project director and research services coordinator, the effort prioritizes human dignity, confidence building, and the acquisition of foundational skills that will help participants find opportunity and success.
Connecting the Disconnected
The partnership between the DNL and the Prison Education and Reentry Initiative reflects an institutional commitment to expanding who libraries serve and how they serve them. By connecting justice-impacted adults to library services, digital learning platforms, and technology support, the project advances equitable access to information and strengthens reentry outcomes across the community.
As experts in information literacy, digital navigation, and adult instruction, library staff will facilitate weekly workshops on the following topics:
- Computer and smartphone fundamentals
- Email, calendaring, and professional communication
- Social media and professional web presence
- Privacy, cybersecurity, and information literacy
Participants will attend a series of four workshops at EMERGE Connecticut’s Bridgeport location, where EMERGE’s cohort model and longstanding relationships provide the community trust essential for learning.
Designed with sustainability in mind, the project will build a documented curriculum, strengthen institutional partnerships, and create pathways for long-term expansion. Subject to future funding, the DNL will continue to collaborate with Fairfield University’s Prison Education and Reentry Initiative and EMERGE Connecticut to refine, evaluate, and replicate the program across additional sites.
“We are proud and excited to partner with EMERGE and Vice President Sawyer’s office on this important work,” Arnold said. “We believe that the digital skills that we cover in our workshops will not only help participants with the daily work of their reentry but also help them feel more connected to the community.”
