Breaking Chains, Building Futures: Pathways to Redemption, Education, and Excellence - Paperback

by Stanley Andrisse (Author)

Explore the realities of life behind and beyond bars through a collection of compelling, first-hand stories

In Breaking Chains, Building Futures: Pathways to Redemption, Education, and Excellence, activist and endocrinologist Dr. Stanley Andrisse brings together a profoundly moving collection of first-hand accounts from individuals impacted by various lengths of incarceration. This powerful book sheds light on the struggles, triumphs, and enduring hope of people navigating life under the weight of harsh prison sentences and the daunting challenges of reentry.

Through these authentic stories, you'll witness the raw humanity of life behind bars and the determination of those striving to reclaim their futures. Meet inspiring individuals like:

• Oswald Newbold, sentenced to life at 20 after growing up with teenage parents battling addiction.
• William Freeman, who spent over two decades serving a life without parole sentence.
• Desiree Riley, a Black mother whose story highlights the intersection of race, gender, and parental incarceration.

Dr. Andrisse also shares his personal journey from incarceration to becoming a scientist and leading Prison to Professionals (P2P), a nonprofit empowering justice-impacted individuals to pursue higher education and redefine success. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the human impact of criminal sentencing and incarceration. Breaking Chains, Building Futures is more than a chronicle of hardship--it's a testament to courage, resilience, and the unyielding pursuit of a better tomorrow.

Back Jacket

RAW, FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS FROM FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WHO TRANSFORMED THEIR LIVES

In Breaking Chains, Building Futures, readers will find a compelling collection of motivational and inspirational stories from individuals who were formerly incarcerated. These narratives highlight the transformative impact of education, mentorship, and personal determination.

Touching on critical themes--including sexual abuse, addiction, gun violence, parental incarceration, and racial bias in sentencing--this book helps readers from all backgrounds realize their potential for positive change.

Based on the experiences of participants in Dr. Stanley Andrisse's Prison-to-Professionals (P2P) Scholars Program, this book illustrates the power of second chances. The organization is dedicated to breaking the cycle of incarceration and fostering pathways toward personal and professional success.

Dr. Andrisse's own journey--from incarceration to becoming a scientist and educator--adds a deeply personal and powerful perspective. His story reinforces the life-changing potential of education, even in technical and scientific fields.

Breaking Chains, Building Futures stands out through its diverse voices, scientific insight, holistic examination of systemic issues, and thematically structured, uplifting narratives. This book belongs on the shelves of all who seek real-life stories of resilience, redemption, and the pursuit of excellence.

Author Biography

DR. STANLEY ANDRISSE is an endocrine scientist and faculty member at Howard University College of Medicine. He is a formerly incarcerated person with three felony convictions who was sentenced to 10 years in a maximum-security prison. After persistent advocacy--including writing multiple letters to judges and correctional officials--he was accepted into a drug rehabilitation program while incarcerated.

Upon his release, Dr. Andrisse was accepted into a PhD program at Saint Louis University, where he earned his PhD--graduating at the top of his class and two years ahead of schedule.