Mindfulness Resolution Project

The Mindfulness Resolution Project began in 2020 with a focus on justice-impacted individuals who are participants in and have benefited from the programs offered by Network Support Services (NSS). These men and women, who have been convicted and served prison terms for their crimes, are seeking a second chance to demonstrate that they have become assets rather than liabilities to their respective communities.

In 2020, Adelphi students began interviewing these individuals hoping to reenter society when M. Cristina Zaccarini, PhD, Adelphi University professor of history collaborated with NahShon Jackson. The seventh child of nine siblings, NahShon Jackson is a justice-impacted individual who served 25 years of imprisonment for a crime he did not commit. Since his release from prison, he has been working with Network Support Services, Inc. and was recognized by the New York State Legislature as “a pillar in his community helping provide necessary reentry services and support to empower those incarcerated and formerly incarcerated in returning home.” He and Dr. Cristina Zaccarini originated the Mindfulness Resolution Project, and he is a vital force in this program.

The project required students to conduct interviews with justice-impacted individuals in order to create audio-recorded and written biographies that would help those reentering society from prison obtain jobs, housing and other services. The students conducted extensive semester exercises that examined the needs of justice-impacted individuals involved in the complexities of navigating the needs for shelter, housing and employment. The goal was, and continues to be, to build upon the success of NSS in reducing its 4 percent recidivism rate of incarceration to 0 percent—meaning that no person who participates in the NSS program ever reoffends.

The important point of connection between Network Support Services and Adelphi students is the principle of mindfulness and compassion for self and others, a core element of its rehabilitation program. The collaboration between NSS and Adelphi students was featured in a documentary by award-winning filmmaker Art Jones. That collaboration was also the foundation for a chapter that Dr. Zaccarini contributed to a Handbook of Research on Practices for Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education, published in 2022 by Information Science Reference.

As Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of mindfulness-based stress reduction, has explained, “When something sad, stressful or hurtful happens, so many of us look for a way to distract ourselves from the ensuing pain and discomfort. It may seem counterintuitive, but an effective way to manage our negative reactions to life’s stressors actually involves slowing down and paying very close attention.”

Unfortunately, many people do the opposite of that today, as we might check our phones 200 times a day. However, allowing ourselves to pay attention takes us out of the realm of anxiety and can lead us to sound mental health, autonomy and success in the world.

The college classroom presents a great opportunity to offer mindfulness-based flexibility of mind to students. As recognized by scholars, “a college degree is associated with multiple cognitive, social, and economic long-term benefits for individuals and these benefits are often passed down to future generations, and ultimately benefit the community and society at large.” (Kuh et al., 2008, Jeffords et al., 2020).

Students unable to engage with situations due to discomfort with feelings and thoughts may withdraw from learning and perceive obstacles, rather than persisting in a direction that exposes them to new, potentially beneficial ideas. zin contrast, students who attain psychological flexibility are able to make adjustments and enhance their sense of self and identity.

The Project engages students in the important endeavor of exploring their thinking without judgment, examining historical sources and creating historical narratives. Thus, it aims to assist in the process of fostering flexibility of mind in the context of compassion for self and others.

Student interviews of justice-impacted individuals, with the support of Network Support Services, culminated in biographies that are the result of semester-long exercises that examine the needs of all involved in the complex societal circumstances.

The goal of the student’s Project interviews of participants reentering society is to show that a more equitable future can be possible, especially for those whose lack of opportunity contributed to incarceration—and to inspire others, becoming positive role models for those in danger of embarking on the path to incarceration.

The Mindfulness Resolution Project is offered through select courses and experiential learning opportunities, including First-Year Seminars and advanced coursework.

Network Support Services is looking for volunteers and interns for their organization, in person or online. NSS empowers incarcerated people to transform their lives and re-enter the community as productive citizens with a renewed sense of purpose. Its work continues outside prison to support returning citizens who are committed to creating positive change in their own lives, their families and communities. NSS boldly provides individuals with a first chance at success, enabling them to become assets to their neighborhoods and improve public safety. NSS works with 10 prisons.

For more information, please contact Nahshon Jackson, Director of Community Outreach, at njackson@networkssi.org.

In addition to NSS, the Mindfulness Resolution Project shares the following internship opportunities with Artivism: The Power of Art for Social Transformation.

Mindfulness grounds the entire experience. Students learn to listen more carefully, reflect more deeply, and approach each interaction without assumption.

That shift in perspective shapes not only their work in the program, but also how they engage with complex social issues more broadly.

This experience stays with students. They leave with stronger communication and critical thinking skills—but more importantly, with perspective.

They see what it means to apply their education in a way that has immediate, human impact.