CEA Region 1 & State Chapter News
The Massachusetts Chapter
The Massachusetts CEA Chapter hosted the very successful 62nd Annual CEA Region 1 Conference on September 25 – 27, 2024 in Plymouth, MA!
More information can be found on the MA CEA website and by contacting Meghan Crowley, the MA CEA Chapter President.
President Crowley also publishes a monthly newsletter about correctional education topics in Massachusetts and internationally!
Like & Follow MA CEA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CEAMACHAPTER
New Jersey Filmmaker, Chris Carden and Music Teacher, Dante Coluccio were our Keynote Speakers on Wednesday, September 25th at the 62nd Annual CEA Region 1 Conference at the Hotel 1620 in Plymouth, Massachusetts! They presented their award-winning documentary entitled, “Be Not Afraid”.
In prison, music can set you free!
Watch the first trailer for “Be Not Afraid,” a short documentary which spotlights an extraordinary music program inside Garden State Correctional Facility. It’s a story of growth, self-expression, learning, brotherhood and the profound impact of the music program on the lives of all those involved.
The full, 23-minute documentary, produced by the NJDOC’s Office of Public Information, will premiere Sunday, after a screening on Saturday as part of the Garden State Film Festival. We’re #NJDOCPROUD to showcase the dedicated staff and incarcerated persons who make the music program possible.
The New Jersey Chapter
Alvin Herron is the NJCEA President. He can be reached at Alvin.Herron@doc.nj.gov.
Nominated in two award categories, “Be Not Afraid,” the short documentary on the NJDOC’s Music Theory Program at Garden State Correctional Facility, was honored to win the Best Jersey Film Award at the Queen City Film Festival. This marks the second award the film has received since its release earlier this year.
Congratulations to filmmaker and Deputy Director Chris Carden on the recent accolade for his moving film!
Watch “Be Not Afraid” now on the official NJDOC YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWuCweGjRr4
The New York Chapter
The New York Chapter is in need of a chapter president! Please contact Region 1 CEA Director Kevin Kavanaugh at region1@ceanational.org if you are interested!
The Pennsylvania Chapter
The CEA Region 1 and the Pennsylvania Chapter of CEA are very excited to host the 79th Annual CEA International Conference on August 10 – 13, 2025 at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! Please contact our three co-chairpersons:
Michele Jennings, the CEAPA President at mjennin@pa.gov, Kammy Hoover, the CEAPA Vice-President at kamhoover@pa.gov, or Allan Berkhimer, the CEAPA State Representative at alberkhime@pa.gov. for more information.
For exhibitor and presenter information, please contact Peggy Kaiser, CEA Executive Director at pkaiser@ceanational.org or Kiara Graham, CEA Executive Assistant at kgraham@ceanational.org