Mountainview Project Hosts Prisoner Awareness Week

Charles will tell you that he did not have a bad life growing up. He had family and a roof over his head, played sports and the piano. But after the death of his father when Charles was only 12, money got tight and he got into selling drugs.

His lifestyle caught up to him, and Charles is now serving a 10-year sentence at Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility in Bordentown on charges of aggravated assault, attempted theft and possession of a deadly weapon.

Now 25, Charles went before a group of students at Rutgers University on Thursday to say that despite the bad choices he made, he is dedicated to turning his life around for his daughter.

"Had I stayed in college...I could have had my masters by now," he said.

Charles, along with Margo, who is currently serving a three-year sentence at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Woman in Clinton, were guests of the Mountainview Project at Rutgers University and Iota Phi Theta. 

They volunteer to appear at schools around the state through a program called Project P.R.I.D.E. (Promoting Responsibility in Drug Education) to discuss their experiences in prison and the choices that got them there.

There are currently 25,000 men and women incarcerated in the state of New Jersey, according to Michael Ritter, coordinator for Project P.R.I.D.E.

The majority of those prisoners serve terms of five years or less, he said. However, the majority of them do not have their high school diploma or GED. Coupled with a criminal record, finding a job becomes exceedingly difficult, he said.

The Mountainview Project at Rutgers University knows this well. Affiliated with the Mountainview Program, the organization educates on the topic of successful rehabilitation of ex-criminal offenders. They also work with at-risk kids and teens through mentorships and tutoring to advocate for staying in school and pursuing higher education.

Walter Fortson, an ex-offender who is now a senior at Rutgers University said the Mountainview Project is an organization for both ex-offenders and students who have not served prison time.

"I hope I don't become an outlier, but more the norm," Fortson said.

All this week, the Mountainview Project has sponsored Prisoner Awareness Week (PAW) featuring lectures, a conference, and a social event. It will culminate on Saturday with a 3K walk in Buccleuch Park.

The remaining PAW events are scheduled as follows:

• 8 p.m. Tonight, Friday, March 1: "Hope For Hearts" in the multipurpose room of the Rutgers Student Center. Attendees are asked to dress in all red to attend this event, which featured heart-healthy food and dancing, a performance by the WISO Dance Troupe and a raffle. Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Heart Association. The Mountainview Project is hosting with Omega Epsilon Rho. 
• 9 a.m. Saturday, March 2: MVP's "Walk for Humanity" at Buccleuch Park. The public is invited to this 3K run/walk that will benefit Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., breakfast and refreshments will be served. Registration is $8 on the day of the event.

For more information on the Mountainview Project, visit the group's Facebook page.

Stay informed of New Brunswick news and information. Like New Brunswick Patch on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.