As any student at Seattle Prep knows, service is one of the pillars of education on campus for both teachers and students. Many students are involved with giving back to the community, whether it be through a club on campus like Global Justice Coalition or FIG, or doing service off campus for a theology course. For those who are especially interested in social justice and reformational justice, Seattle Clemency Project provides not only experience with social and reformational justice but also valuable experience serving one’s community. 

Now, what exactly is the Seattle Clemency Project? According to their website, “SCP [is] the only non-profit focused on post-conviction relief based on rehabilitation in Washington state.” As a non-profit organization, this incredible project is made up of mostly lawyer volunteers who do their work pro-bono, spending their free time devoted to social justice and reformational justice.  

The Seattle Clemency Project’s mission is to “increase access to justice for reformed individuals serving sentences that no longer serve a purpose and to prevent deportations that fracture our communities,” says their website. The project focuses on reintroducing formerly incarcerated people back into the world and fighting for fair punishment.  

Students at Seattle Prep who volunteer at this project do important and valuable work during a summer internship offered at SCP, where students “work together with Seattle Clemency Project to put on a panel event in the Fall,” says Coach William Liu, resident SCP coordinator for students at Prep. During this internship, which involves research, communication, and planning, students learn the importance of the work the Seattle Clemency Project does as well as the valuableness of their service to their community. 

“It has been so great for Seattle Prep students to get involved with the Seattle Clemency Project because their work aligns with the Ignatian values that we share with our students: care for the whole person, forming women and men with and for others, building community through restorative practices,” says Liu. Not only is a summer internship with the Seattle Clemency Project great for extra service hours outside of school but it also teaches and reinforces many beneficial lessons students learn through Ignatian spirituality from Seattle Prep. 

After being involved with Seattle Prep for about 5-6 years, according to Mr. Liu, getting involved with this project’s amazing opportunities for students is as simple as an email to Mr. Liu expressing your interest. “Seattle Clemency Project is such an important organization because it highlights the power of redemption and a healthy justice system for our community,” says Liu. “Their work teaches people about the importance of restorative justice, hope, and the capacity for individual growth.”