High Impact Philanthropy: Jeffrey Abramowitz Of Petey Greene Program On How To Leave A Lasting Legacy With A Successful & Effective Nonprofit Organization

An Interview with Karen Mangia

Stay mission-focused and driven. The reality is that not everything goes exactly as planned all the time. We were planning our very first fundraising event and two months prior to the event, few tickets were sold. I knew that we just could not build an event that would last into the future unless we got the first one under our belt. Despite objections from my staff, all of whom wanted to cancel the event, we stayed the course, focused on what we could learn this time around. We ended up having an absolutely incredible event which has now set the stage for year two.

For someone who wants to set aside money to establish a Philanthropic Foundation or Fund, what does it take to make sure your resources are being impactful and truly effective? In this interview series, called “How To Create Philanthropy That Leaves a Lasting Legacy” we are visiting with founders and leaders of Philanthropic Foundations, Charitable Organizations, and Non-Profit Organizations, to talk about the steps they took to create sustainable success.

As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jeffrey Abramowitz, J.D. Jeffrey is the chief executive officer of the Petey Greene Program, past executive director of justice partnerships and executive director reentry services for JEVS Human Services and the founder and program director of Looking Forward Philadelphia Reentry Program. He previously served on the Executive Board of the Coalition on Adult Basic Education, COABE, where he served as secretary, and currently co-chairs the State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship Program and is chair of the Public Policy Committee. Jeffrey was appointed to the Pennsylvania Reentry Council and serves as chairman of the Employment Committee and past co-chair of the Reentry Committee for the PA Workforce Development Board and served as the past chair of the Philadelphia Reentry Coalition and currently serves as a subject matter expert for the US Department of Education.

Thank you for making time to visit with us about a ‘top of mind’ topic. Our readers would like to get to know you a bit better. Can you please tell us about one or two life experiences that most shaped who you are today?

By far the most impactful life experiences that shaped who I am today arise from some of the most challenging times of my life. After working as a trial lawyer for over twenty years, poor choices in life brought me into a courtroom where for the very first time, I stood not as an attorney, but as a defendant. Accepting responsibility for the choices that I made also meant accepting the consequences for those actions. I was sentenced to five years in a federal prison, and it was on this journey that I learned who I was, what was important in life and what my purpose was on this earth. I left prison after reading over 1,000 books, teaching over 35 classes and learning more than I ever believed possible about people and myself. The lessons learned were too numerous to recount here, but life for me has become not about the past, but those very lessons that guide me today to do the work that I do to make this world a better place.

You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? We would love to hear a few stories or examples.

The three most important character traits for me as a leader are:

1. Self-responsibility and reflection. There is not a day that goes by when I walk down a street and see someone in need that I do not stop to recognize them as a human being. Just understanding that we all make choices in this world, many of which are not the best, but also understanding that this is how we learn. I often wonder what would have happened if I did not stop to give someone some support, an ear to listen, a job referral or a coat in the winter. It is now my responsibility to see those in need and help the best that I can.
2. Empathy and compassion. Having lived in a shelter after my incarceration where it was difficult finding a good meal or some of the basic necessities of life, like toilet paper, is truly humbling, but something that has given me a new pair of glasses — ones that I cherish as empathy and compassion. These values are always front and center in working with my staff, students, volunteers and the community.
3. Persistence. I believe that everything in life happens for a reason and it is our job to see it, understand it and use the experience as a lesson for growth and opportunity. With this also comes the rationalization that, for you to meet your goals in life, you need to be persistent and keep moving forward, not back.

What’s the most interesting discovery you’ve made since you started leading your organization?

Being honest, truthful and transparent with your staff and others inside and outside of the organization is invaluable. For you to be respected by your peers, you must earn their trust and support. Letting your team know it’s okay to make a poor choice or decision is crucial to building a culture of honesty and trust — and goes a long way to building a great corporate culture.

Can you please tell our readers more about how you or your organization intends to make a significant social impact?

The Petey Greene Program (PGP) was established in New Jersey in 2008. An evaluation completed in 2013 revealed academic outcomes compelling enough to warrant expansion: Incarcerated students tutored by PGP advanced one to two full grade levels more than non-tutored students in both math and reading over the course of just one semester. Following this study, PGP expanded in seven northeastern states and launched its Philadelphia program in 2015. Since then, we have expanded and diversified our programs in Philadelphia, and we currently provide tutoring and academic support services to more than 300 students who have been impacted by the criminal legal system, including currently incarcerated students in three correctional facilities, recently arrested youth in a diversion program and formerly incarcerated learners.

PGP focuses on a critical gap predominant among incarcerated people: the lack of a high school degree and preparation for post-secondary education. According to a 2018 report, formerly incarcerated people are nearly twice as likely as the general population to have no high school credential, and eight times less likely to complete college. In an economy that increasingly demands highly skilled workers, these disparities put formerly incarcerated people at a significant disadvantage, which is only exacerbated by the reluctance of many employers to hire justice-involved individuals. As a result, unemployment rates among the formerly incarcerated average 27% — this is higher than peak unemployment during the Great Depression. Unemployment rates are even higher for those without a high school credential — from 38% among Black men to 60% among Black women. It’s no wonder an estimated 68% of those incarcerated in state prisons are rearrested within three years, climbing to 83% within nine years.

The Petey Greene Program not only has an impact on helping justice-impacted individuals get smarter on their journey towards a career pathway, but we are changing culture by introducing our college student tutors to the humanity behind and beyond the prison walls.

What makes you feel passionate about this cause more than any other?

Having lived experience in the carceral setting, living in a homeless shelter and seeing the positive impact of adult education as an educator, administrator, and now executive has given me a new view of the issues facing our students, staff and stakeholders when dealing with the barriers facing those individuals who are traveling through the criminal legal system.

Without naming names, could you share a story about an individual who benefitted from your initiatives?

One of our students, a grandmother, was recently recognized as the “Student of the Year” by the Pennsylvania Adult Education Association. She accepted her award with her granddaughter by her side and told her story of resilience and how important the educational support was from the Petey Greene Program. Being the first in her family to graduate from high school and now proceeding to college, the message was clear: adult education can change the lives of individuals and the generations that follow.

We all want to help and to live a life of purpose. What are three actions anyone could take to help address the root cause of the problem you’re trying to solve?

1. Be curious and not judgmental. Ask questions with an open mind and heart.
2. Make decisions based upon the facts you have in front of you.
3. Trust your gut. If you are feeling strongly about something, trust your judgment and give yourself space to learn from every situation.

Based on your experience, what are the “5 Things You Need To Create A Successful & Effective Nonprofit That Leaves A Lasting Legacy?”

1. Retain dedicated and happy staff. One of the first things that I asked my staff is a very simple question:
   “Are you happy?” When you recognize that your staff spend a good portion of their lives at work, and even thinking about work when they are off the clock, we should want our staff to be happy in their career. Asking this question has opened the door for staff to consider the job they are doing, and whether they like (or hopefully love) their job. The data is indisputable, people who love what they do, do it longer and better!
2. Stay mission-focused and driven. The reality is that not everything goes exactly as planned all the time. We were planning our very first fundraising event and two months prior to the event, few tickets were sold. I knew that we just could not build an event that would last into the future unless we got the first one under our belt. Despite objections from my staff, all of whom wanted to cancel the event, we stayed the course, focused on what we could learn this time around. We ended up having an absolutely incredible event which has now set the stage for year two.
3. Look to the future and stay two steps ahead of everyone else. For the past two years, the Federal Digital Equity Act has been coming into play across the country and, for the past year, we have been mindful of this legislation and considering how our students can benefit from the digital literacy benefits of the act. With this in mind, we are now well positioned to apply for funding under the act and take advantage of the new learning opportunities for our students and staff. Staying ahead of the game can be crucial to your ongoing success.
4. Tell your story through the students and volunteers you impact. They say that a picture says a thousand words and it is very true in the work we do. Being able to tell the stories of our students and our volunteers moves funders and other stakeholders to support our work. I have so very many stories of students coming home from prison and leaving to start their lives with a high school diploma or a stack of occupational credentials that they secured while incarcerated. One student, Steven, came home with an HVAC credential and, within weeks of his release, was working and earning a sustainable wage.
5. Run your nonprofit like a for-profit company — always considering what makes financial sense. We run the Petey Greene Program as if it were a for-profit business, being mindful of costs and determined to secure revenue to keep us moving forward in our mission. One of the things we do is create a profit-and-loss statement for each of our programs and review it monthly to determine the revenue we need to generate to keep our programs running. Many nonprofit organizations work off grants and donations, but don’t take this granular, proactive approach to financial planning.

How has the pandemic changed your definition of success?

The pandemic forced the Petey Greene Program to be flexible with our service model and meet our students and volunteers where they are. Success is recognizing how you can be impactful and then being flexible enough to do so, despite some really challenging circumstances. The Petey Greene Program was able to move to virtual tutoring and begin providing services outside of the walls of prisons and jails during the pandemic. This has enabled us to continue to grow and expand our programming now that the pandemic has ended.

How do you get inspired after an inevitable setback?

By remembering that life is not about the past, it is about focusing on the lessons that we learn from those setbacks. We use any setback as a time to reflect, take accountability and find ways to come back stronger.

We are very blessed that very prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world who you would like to talk to, to share the idea behind your non-profit? He, she, or they might just see this, especially if we tag them.

I hope that this will reach CEOs and corporate leaders looking to change their culture and give individuals with a criminal past an opportunity to change their lives and the future for their families. Any leader can recognize an issue, know that it is wrong and want to fix it, but the leader who actually steps into the arena to make change happen has the biggest and longest-lasting impact.

You’re doing important work. How can our readers follow your progress online?

You can follow us at peteygreene.org, or on LinkedIn or Facebook. I can also be reached at my website, jeffrey-abramowitz.com.

Thank you for a meaningful conversation. We wish you continued success with your mission.

About The Interviewer: Karen Mangia is one of the most sought-after keynote speakers in the world, sharing her thought leadership with over 10,000 organizations during the course of her career. As Vice President of Customer and Market Insights at Salesforce, she helps individuals and organizations define, design and deliver the future. Discover her proven strategies to access your own success in her fourth book Success from Anywhere and by connecting with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.