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February 2026
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
NEWSLETTER
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Valentine Cards for Seniors
At Columbia River Correctional Institution, more than 80 adults in custody, alongside several dedicated staff members, came together to create over 200 handmade cards in support of Positive Charge! A Portland-based initiative focused on spreading kindness throughout the community. Participants worked together to design thoughtful Valentine’s messages intended to brighten someone’s day and strengthen community connections. The completed cards were delivered to local seniors receiving Meals on Wheels, offering a simple but meaningful reminder that they are valued and remembered. The project provided an opportunity for participants to give back while promoting compassion, creativity, and positive engagement.
Hearts & Hugs Valentines for Seniors
This month's Director’s Desk shares three valuable updates on the upcoming 2026-2028 Strategic Plan, the latest results from the Gallup Survey, and proposed cost-saving suggestions you've submitted to DOC.
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Prison Documentary Gets Oscar Nod
A documentary highlighting a unique prison education program in Oregon has been shortlisted for an Academy Award. Classroom 4 follows a college-level course taught inside Columbia River Correctional Institution, where students from Lewis & Clark College learn alongside adults in custody as part of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program.
The class, titled Crime and Punishment in U.S. History, brings together incarcerated and non-incarcerated students for a semester of shared academic study and dialogue. The documentary captures candid conversations about the history of incarceration in the United States, as well as the personal growth and perspective shifts experienced by participants on both sides of the classroom.
Classroom 4 recently won the top documentary award at the Aspen Film Festival and was later named to the Academy Awards shortlist, placing the Oregon-based program on a national stage. Former student participants featured in the film describe the course as transformative, offering new ways to understand themselves, others, and the broader justice system.
The documentary highlights the role education can play in creating connection, accountability, and preparation for successful reentry.
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Our goal is to keep you up-to-date with institution news and events.
Click the link provided to see recent AIC newsletters from some of our facilities.
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