Historic Transformation Inside San Quentin May 21, 2026 From Incarceration to Innovation: The Future of Rehabilitation Students of The Last Mile working at the new Learning Center at San Quentin Rehabilitation CenterPhoto by Matthew Kadi In collaboration with CALCTRA and CDCR, The Last Mile hosted a showcase event inside the newly constructed San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQRC) on Thursday, May 14, 2026. The SQRC showcase featured a state-of-the-art rehabilitation campus where incarcerated individuals can participate in educational programming and high-demand vocational skills training. The Last Mile (TLM) education programs include AI, coding, business practices, digital literacy, audio/video production, and its newest curriculum featuring skilled trades starting with roofing and solar installation. “The San Quentin Rehabilitation Center’s opening marks a significant step in providing opportunities for students to gain digital fluency, marketable skills, and skilled trades training that result in gainful employment,” said The Last Mile Executive Director Kevin McCracken. “The evidence is clear: skill-based rehabilitative programs lead to safer communities and real employment opportunities. Through this innovative partnership with The Last Mile, Governor Newsom’s office, CALCTRA, CDCR, and the San Quentin team, we are creating collaborations that benefit all Californians.” Skill-based rehabilitative programs lead to safer communities and real employment opportunities. – Kevin McCracken The Last Mile Executive Director The Last Mile co-founders Beverly Parenti and Chris Redlitz, with executive director Kevin McCrackenPhoto by Matthew Kadi The Last Mile, CALCTRA, and CDCR opened the first coding classroom at San Quentin in 2014. “It takes alignment to create lasting change. By focusing on innovation, rehabilitation, and strong community partnerships, the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center is helping incarcerated individuals build successful futures beyond prison,” said CALCTRA’s Acting Director Suzie Changus. “CALCTRA is proud to be in partnership with The Last Mile and CDCR to support opportunities that strengthen lives, families, and communities.” Showcase attendees experienced a newly opened 80,000-square-foot Learning Center featuring: Technology-enabled classrooms Workforce-aligned training programs Live demonstrations of TLM’s Service Delivery Platform (SDP) Direct engagement with TLM program participants TLM graduates and partnership success stories. A Historic Shift in U.S. Correctional Facilities This event marks a historic shift in U.S. corrections—turning incarceration into opportunity at scale. San Quentin is becoming a national model for educating, training, and transforming lives. The Last Mile education and technology program represents a scalable, data-driven model for reducing recidivism. TLM graduates / returned citizens achieve a 75% employment rate TLM graduates’ recidivism rate of less than 8% is far below the national recidivism rate of 61%. For the first time in U.S. Correctional Facilities, TLM’s Service Delivery Platform (SDP), enables secure access for qualified education and training programs.