PVCC to Hold Tom Tom Festival Community Partner Event
Charlottesville, Va. – April 2, 2026 – Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) invites the community to an evening of courageous dialogue and creative expressions exploring incarceration, education and the power of second chances. The Tom Tom Festival Community Partner event “Courage Inside: Humanities, Dialogue, and Student Voices from PVCC's Higher Education in Prison Program” will take place in the PVCC Bolick Center Event Space, Thursday, April 23, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Bolick Center is located at the north end of the main campus in Charlottesville, VA. The event is free and open to the public.
In 2006, PVCC launched its Higher Education in Prison Program at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women. Since then, the Program has expanded to Dillwyn and Buckingham Correctional Centers, transforming the lives of over 150 graduates through quality post-secondary education. In 2025, PVCC became the first institution of higher education in Virginia to receive formal accreditation as a Prison Education Program, furthering its mission to expand access to life-changing educational opportunities and statewide leadership to extend these opportunities to justice-impacted individuals.
The event will begin with a reading of creative writing pieces by Higher Education in Prison Program students, offering a glimpse into the lived experiences and reflections of incarcerated learners. A creative performance by local artist and creative writer La'Tasha Stother will exhibit works co-produced by students. Finally, a panel of faculty will share their experiences teaching incarcerated students and address myths about humanities education in prison.
This event, held in recognition of Second Chance Month, aims to elevate community awareness and engagement at the intersection of incarceration and education while celebrating the opportunities that learning can provide for individuals seeking a new path forward.
The event is made possible in part by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.
Learn more about the event at https://tomtomfestival2026.sched.com/event/2IqZ4/courage-inside-humanities-dialogue-and-student-voices-from-pvccs-higher-education-in-prison-program.
Explore the PVCC Higher Education in Prison Program at pvcc.edu/pvcc-higher-education-prison-program.
About Piedmont Virginia Community College
Established in 1972, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a nonresidential two-year institution of higher education that serves Central Virginia – principally, residents of the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. PVCC is committed to providing access to a college education for all who can benefit, an opportunity for each student to reach her/his potential, and excellence in all programs and services. The main campus is in Albemarle County, Virginia. Classes are also offered at the PVCC Eugene Giuseppe Center in Stanardsville, Va. (Greene County) and the PVCC Jefferson School Center in downtown Charlottesville. Visit pvcc.edu.
PVCC does not discriminate based on age, color, disability, family medical history or genetic information, military service, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation or any other non-merit-based factor. Visit pvcc.edu/nondiscrimination to learn more.