Dear Friends and Supporters of PiFO, The start of classes at the Corban extension in the Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI) have been delayed to mid-November due to some COVID issues. Notwithstanding this delay, I am excited to introduce you to another Corban instructor, Professor Gina Ochsner. She is a gifted author, speaker and teacher.…
DetailsDear Supporters of PiFO, In October, the fall semester will begin at the Corban University extension in the Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI). At the beginning of each semester, I let you know about the subjects that are going to be taught and the professors from Corban who will be teaching them. This week I…
DetailsDear Friends and Supporters of PiFO, The mission of PiFO is to provide an opportunity for Oregon adults in custody (AICs) to obtain an accredited college degree. The goal is a BS degree emphasizing biblical training in Psychology, Social Services and Leadership. The vision of PiFO is to transform these AICs into spiritual and moral…
DetailsDear Friends and Supporters of PiFO, As I mentioned a few weeks ago, our second cohort of 25 men has been selected. Soon our new students will be transferred from other prisons around the state to the Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI) in Salem. The Corban classes are scheduled to begin in October of this…
DetailsDear Supporters of PiFO, Last week I wrote about an article that Dr. Amit Bhatia prepared for an op ed piece in a local publication. Dr. Bhatia is the Director of the Corban extension in the Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI). In the article Dr. Bhatia wrote: “Imagine yourself stepping into your classroom in a prison. As…
DetailsDear Supporters of PiFO, On occasion, I have used quotes from Dr. Amit Bhatia, who is the Director of the Corban extension in the Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI). Here is a copy of an article Dr. Bhatia wrote. This article goes to the heart of our program and also reveals Dr. Bhatia’s heart for…
DetailsDear Supporters of PiFO, I want to share a note from Dr. Amit Bhatia, the Program Director for the Corban extension in the Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI). Under Dr. Bhatia’s leadership the program is excelling beyond what was ever expected! Here is an excerpt from a report Dr. Bhatia recently gave to the Salem…
DetailsDear Supporters of PiFO, Last year, PiFO inaugurated the first Corban college extension in the Oregon State Correctional Institution with its first cohort of adults in custody (AICs). These 25 men began classes during the first week of October, 2019. They are presently in the process of finishing their first year of college in prison.…
DetailsDear Supporters of PiFO, As you all know, I frequently write about students in our first cohort at the Corban extension in the Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI). Let me introduce you to Michael. Michael was driving a vehicle that crashed and resulted in the death of his wife and his seven year old step-son.…
DetailsDear Supporters of PiFO, Throughout my travels to prisons across the country I have encountered stories of rehabilitation, redemption and restoration. Most of them have involved inmates. But this story is about a corrections’ staff person that I met in another state. Fortunately, it represents only a small percentage of attitudes among some staff. But…
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