About Us

Our founder, Eddie Ellis created the Resurrection Study Group (RSG) program model in 1989 at Green Haven Correctional Facility in New York State, as a community-specific leadership development program that grew out of the Non-Traditional Approach To Criminal and Social Justice analysis and the need for innovative empowerment programs models at the prison level.

 

The RSG program model was uniquely designed from the experiences, and insights, of incarcerated people to educate, reform, restore, and empower incarcerated people physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually to be productive citizens upon return to their families, neighborhoods, and communities. 

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Studies show that specific communities impacted by mass incarceration have high rates of poverty, unemployment, imprisonment, failing schools, and are infested with crime, violence, and drugs. However, 90% of all incarcerated people will return to these communities and neighborhoods. How will they return? Will they be constructive or destructive?  Will they be assets or liabilities?

 

Underserved and justice-impacted communities need more than returning citizens with traditional rehabilitative skills (College Degree, Vocational Training, and Substance Use Disorder Certificate). These disadvantaged communities need a new generation of people who, during incarceration, have received a true education that reforms minds, restores humanity, sanity, morality, decency, sense of community, and empowers them to undergo a whole-person transformation for the better, thus living better lives and becoming agents for effective change in their families, neighborhoods, and community. 

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Over the past 34 years, RSG alumni have returned to their communities as, civic-minded, socially-conscious people committed to working to make their neighborhoods and communities safe, thriving, and vibrant places to live. 

 

Today, Resurrection Study Group, Inc. (RSGINC), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to serving incarcerated people and the specific communities impacted by high incarceration rates. With over 35 years of experience in human justice work, our staff is well qualified to serve incarcerated people and the community. With your kind support, we can continue this vital work. 

                                                                                                                                                Kenny Cush Kirkland 

                                                                                                                                                President and CEO 

                                                                                                                                                Resurrection Study Group, Inc.               

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