Our Impact

APDS Changes Lives

To amplify the impact of APDS’ strategic partners, we work to dramatically increase engagement rates of educational, personal, and career resources for justice-impacted individuals.

130% increase in GED pass rates

85% Pass Rate for learners earning their AWS Cloud Practitioner Certificate

20% average increase in access to education and programs

Earned employer trust through APDS and industry certifications

Leading the Way

Success Stories

Educating & Equipping for Job Readiness with Amazon

The successful partnership of AWS / APDS / DC DOC is driven by mission and goal alignment, collaborative tech and curriculum integration, and a focus on employment with a commitment to interview.

100%
Of participating students were pre-qualified and eligible for AWS Interviews		 85%
Of enrolled participants passed and received their AWS Cloud Computer Certification
10 Weeks
Length of AWS Cloud Computing Certification Class		 20 States
States identified for potential rollout of AWS Certification as pilot next steps

Creating a Successful Education Technology Program with the Tennessee Workforce Board

APDS created a pilot education technology program with the Tennessee Workforce Board in 2021. Within a two year span this edtech program expanded from three counties to statewide.

2021

With the help of the Tennessee Workforce Development Board this program expanded to  329 learners:

  • 17,000 + Hours Usage 
  • 2 hours per day on average

2022

In 2022 a grant was awarded to expand the program to: 

  • 363 additional learners (cellular & wifi)
  • Across 17 additional Tennessee counties 

2023 and onward

APDS will provide 8,000 learners with edtech programs across all 95 Tennessee counties with statewide jail programs for the justice-involved on the pathway to employment.

Testimonials

This is a life-changing experience despite my current situation.

Receiving the AWS Cloud-Computing Certification means the most to me because it will open a new chapter in life that I would never have thought possible. Thank you, APDS

APDS Student, AWS Cloud-Computing Certified

District of Columbia
Testimonials

APDS understands the importance of education technology and corrections reform.

Their first-in-class curriculums are game changers. APDS changes lives with GED’s and Certifications to prepare incarcerated learners for a living wage career

Dr. Amy Lopez, Former Deputy Director

DC Department of Corrections
Testimonials

APDS has helped me find my motives, my strengths, and what I want to do in life.

I now have goals set for myself and a path to accomplish them. I am very grateful for the opportunity APDS has provided. It has been wonderful so far.

APDS Student

Massachusetts
Testimonials

APDS has given me a renewed and improved confidence within.

I feel that I now have a definitive direction in what I want and expect out of life and myself.

APDS Student

Iowa
Featured Case Study

Preparing justice-impacted with education, work skills and life skills for a brighter future.

Read the Case Study Connect with APDS

Romicha Cooper is the Director of Talent for APDS. She is seasoned Human Resources Professional in both public and private sectors for nearly 20 years. Her approach to talent management is with trust and transparency. In 2020, Cooper authored a children’s book titled “Aunty’s House” inspired by her childhood and family.

Kimonti Carter is the former president and current Resource & Equity Director of the Black Prisoners’ Caucus Community Group. At 34, Kimonti founded T.E.A.C.H., a higher-education program that he designed with the Black Prisoners’ Caucus to bring college courses to Washington State prisoners. Kimonti is also featured in the award-winning documentary Since I Been Down and serves as an APDS educational consultant. He is a community advocate, educator, motivational speaker, and curriculum designer of Liberation Education, a course on the ADPS educational platform.

Ralph is the Founder and Managing Director of ETS Strategic Capital; he also serves as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) for the unit. With experience in engineering, applied-science, finance, and business management, he has led ten venture investments and serves on six Boards of Directors. Previously, he worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, and in R&D at Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies, and AT&T. Ralph holds twelve patents in various technology fields and is a Kauffman Fellow, Robert Toigo Foundation Fellow, and PriceBabson SEE Fellow. He serves on non-profit boards, including Princeton University Engineering and the Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) of the NNSA, and works with the NSF on SBIR and STTR programs.

LaToya Newson is a trailblazer in the field of adult education, with a wealth of experience in corrections education programming. She spearheaded the creation of the Reentry, Employment, Adult Education Program (Project REAP) – a groundbreaking initiative aimed at curbing recidivism by providing education and training to justice-impacted individuals. This innovative program provides incarcerated individuals with the tools and resources they need to complete their high school equivalency exam, preparing them for success upon their release.

Born and raised in D.C, Chris grew up under extremely difficult circumstances. At the age of 17, he was charged with a crime, convicted, and sentenced to natural life in prison. While incarcerated, he earned his high school diploma, graduated from all of the vocational shops, earned an Associate Degree and started his Master Plan, a roadmap for his future. After serving 16 years in prison, Chris wrote and published The Master Plan: My Journey from Life in Prison to a Life of Purpose to inspire other justice-impacted individuals to achieve their fullest potential.

As CEO of APDS, Harris oversees all aspects of the company’s operations. His expertise, leadership, and vision have made him a respected figure in the education industry, and he continues to drive forward his mission of using EdTech to make a difference in the lives of justice-impacted individuals. Harris has a deep understanding of the unique challenges of EdTech in corrections, and he is passionate about leveraging technology to create innovative solutions that can help transform the lives of students and educators alike.

As Chief Revenue Officer of APDS, Mott ensures the successful delivery of evidence based programing to the states and jurisdictions serviced by APDS. In this role, Mott is instrumental in driving long-term change in recidivism and positive learner outcomes. She is a passionate advocate for free individualized programming for justice-impacted individuals.

A passionate advocate for social justice and education, Arti Finn co-founded APDS in 2013 with the ambitious goal of creating pathways to living-wage employment for individuals affected by the justice system. Under her visionary leadership, APDS has revolutionized the edtech landscape within the correctional environment, providing high-quality programming at no cost to justice-impacted individuals or their families in hundreds of facilities across 18 states.

 

As Chief Strategy Officer, Arti skillfully directs the company’s policy, government relations, marketing, and public relations efforts while also forging strategic partnerships to further advance the organization’s mission. Her keen focus is on helping correctional systems reimagine the potential of technology to deliver scalable, tailored programming that empowers justice-involved individuals to successfully reintegrate into society.

Nate Ober is the Chief Technology and Product Officer at APDS, where he leads teams responsible for developing innovative content and technology products for justice-impacted learners and driving technology efficiency in the company’s business systems. With 18 years of experience in education technology, Nate has a track record of guiding organizations through growth and transformation. He has expertise in product management, agile transformation, IT modernization, software development, and scalable educational technology solutions. Before joining APDS, Nate held various roles in the education industry, including CTO and Head of Product at Straighterline and CTO at Questar Assessment.

Dr. Amy Lopez is a federal appointee and nationally recognized expert who designs and delivers innovative correctional educational programming for incarcerated individuals and training for staff entrusted with their care. She is a pioneer in launching first-of-their-kind programs on positive behavior interventions, leveraging technology to connect incarcerated individuals with educational and legal resources, and implementing innovative trauma-informed staff training to de-escalate crisis situations. 

Carol D’Amico is a seasoned higher education reformer, dedicated to connecting education with the world of work. As a consultant, she contributes to talent growth across education, workforce, and economic development sectors. D’Amico’s background includes serving as Executive Vice President of Strada Education Network, Assistant Secretary for Adult and Vocational Education in the U.S. Department of Education, and co-director of the Center for Workforce Development at the Hudson Institute. While at the Hudson Institute, she co-authored “Workforce 2020,” examining the future U.S. workforce demographics and the challenges of preparing for a global economy.

 

In addition to her policy work, D’Amico has held leadership roles in higher education institutions, serving as executive vice president and chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, and president and CEO of Conexus Indiana, a manufacturing and logistics initiative.

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