What does Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” mean for a Black kid from a violent neighborhood who’s headed to prison for life? How does the metaphor of “the cave” help Chris Wilson to understand his world and to discover how he wants to change it?

In Part One, students explore how their communities, environments and traumas have come to define their own personal stories and they begin developing positive strategies for coping with trauma and loss.

Chris hits rock bottom. He realizes the system was set up for Black men to fail, and that there is a reason that so many people from his community are locked up. A mentor on the inside helps him get back on his feet and to realize a new life purpose.

In Part Two, students learn about the history of mass incarceration and the racist policies that lead to the largest prison industrial complex in the world. Through these lessons, students connect their own personal story to larger history of the carceral system.

Chris develops a “master plan” which helps him to set goals and accomplish tasks while incarcerated. He uses this plan to convince a judge that he’s ready for release. Once on the outside, Chris learns the struggle and joys of reentry.

In the final part of the workbook, students develop their own goals and dreams by working backward from their “endgame.” They consider topics like time management, reward systems, stoicism and resilience strategies, hierarchies of needs and positive mentorship models as they work toward creating their very own Master Plans.