Alumni Spotlight: Meet Anthony Jong

Anthony is a proud graduate of Insight Gardens’ in-prison program at California Health Care Facility and an active member of our reentry community. He regularly participates in healing circles, one-on-one check-ins, as well as nature excursions and conservation projects. When Anthony was released from prison last year, we were honored to support him in his transition, helping him connect to housing and services, while also subsidizing his participation in a job developer certification program. Like many formerly incarcerated individuals, Anthony faced challenges finding employers who would give him a chance, but his perseverance paid off when Rubicon Programs, a reentry-focused workforce development organization in the Bay Area, offered him a position as a career coach. One of Anthony’s career dreams is to return to prisons and support incarcerated people directly.

Anthony has maintained his deep connection to nature, nurtured through our in-prison program, by setting aside time to hike and visit local lakes. He dreams of one day having his own garden, like his father in Indonesia, to grow his favorite fruits and vegetables. In addition to his passion for nature, Anthony is also a talented artist who finds beauty in all living things, especially plants and animals. His artistic abilities continue to flourish as he captures this beauty in his drawings.

When asked about IGP’s impact on his life, Anthony replied:  

“I love IGP. When you are in prison they treat you like a number. When I was in IGP, I felt like a human again. I could talk about the things I care about, the things that make me happy or sad. I never felt like “I am an inmate and you are staff”. I always had a feeling like we were the same and staff are there to support us. I remember when I was inside and I got the letter from Jamala explaining what to expect when I get out and all the support that IGP offers. Jamala said ‘When you are in IGP, we got you’. This really gave me hope that someone would be there for me and help me when I got out. And it was true. IGP is always there for me, checking up on me and supporting me. One thing I think people inside really need is hope. IGP staff gave me hope when I was inside and this made me want to give that hope and support to other people.”