Prison Education and Community Engagement
Credible Messenger Leadership Academy program enables participates to demonstrate competencies surrounding restorative justice, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, conflict resolution and mediation, healthcare navigation and recovery support.
This leadership development program is for people with lived experience in the criminal-legal system. Over three semesters, participants build skills in advocacy, community organizing, healing-centered practice and systems change – grounded in the knowledge and expertise they already carry. The program is grounded in years of community-based prison and reentry education and support work across Connecticut.
Who is this program for?
Formerly incarcerated and other system impacted individuals who are engaged in reentry support, mentoring, violence intervention, advocacy or community-based work
Community leaders with lived experience in the criminal legal system who want formal credentials to match and further enhance their expertise
Participants ready to deepen their leadership skills and expand their capacity for community impact
Applications are now closed for the 2026-27 calendar year
The three-semester program meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6-8:45 p.m., on Quinnipaic's North Haven Campus, plus one intensive weekend per semester. There is no cost to participate.
Semester 1: Fall 2026
Credible Messengers 101
Trauma-Informed Care for the Helping Professionals
Restorative Justice 101
Semester 2: Spring 2027
Mediation and Conflict Resolution
Emotional Intelligence
Mental Health First Aid
Semester 3: Summer 2027
Transformative Mentoring and Civic Engagement
Career Success and Advocacy
Healthcare Navigation and Advocacy
Applications are now closed for the 2026-27 calendar year
All learners who complete the following criteria will earn a recognized certificate credential co-developed with community practitioners and formerly incarcerated leaders. Participants will gain:
Skills in trauma-informed care, restorative justice, mediation, emotional intelligence, mentoring, healthcare navigation and career advocacy
Connections to a network of credible messengers, community organizations and educational institutions
Practical tools for navigating systems and supporting others through reentry and community leadership
Learners may also receive college credits applicable toward further higher education pending approval.
Offered by Quinnipiac University Prison Education and Community Engagement, this program is a partnership between Quinnipiac University's Office of Lifelong Learning, Hartford Healthcare's Institute of Living and the Full Citizens Coalition.
Program Coordinator, Credible Messenger Leadership Academy
Director, Prison Education and Community Engagement
For questions about this program, please email Quinnipiac University Prison Education and Community Engagement at pece@qu.edu.
Contact us to learn more about our open enrollment programs or to design custom solutions for your business or organization.
