>> 18 >> women incarcerated at Logan Correctional Center are celebrating a milestone graduating from Northwestern University's prison education program.

13 Min comes as women leaving prison often face significant barriers to rebuilding their lives.

Now the program is working to change that using education to help women prepare for a future.

The odd incarceration.

>> Dressed in the royal purple gowns.

They step only years in the making Stolz draped across their shoulders, representing a piece of what they've accomplished.

Families watching their loved one's take the state, not as inmates, but as college graduates.

>> It marks the graduation of the first cohort of women from Logan Correctional >> 18 women are making history as the first to graduate from Northwestern University's Prison Education program.

Northwestern Foster, my imagination.

And granted me access to knowledge allowing me to realize the limitless possibilities and potential energy within people and places that have long been denied this privilege one by one.

They take the stage and share how the program changed their lives.

>> My story does not and will agree.

It only contains it wasn't until I became a young adult that I understood the importance of education.

But by this time I was incarcerated.

>> The curriculum is taught by faculty from Northwestern and the students are taught subjects like political science, ecology, history.

>> Ray.

>> A 44 year-old Erica Ray is one of the graduates.

>> We rolled out here cuff to like change when the bus.

But then we get in here and it's scholars and like famous writers and like Nancy Pelosi, all same roof with us.

congratulations >> raised serving a 42 year prison sentence.

She'll be in 60's when she's released.

But she's already thinking about what comes next.

>> Women are.

Women I said women are.

>> I hope to start my own organization.

All I had to do some preventative work in Chicago so that all, you know, to tackle social determinants so younger end up in the hospital system.

>> Well, Drake hopes to help women avoid prison.

Many a God size working to help others navigate life after incarceration, she served nearly 12 years at Logan Correctional Center.

She was released in 2021. and sent to release got size.

Now the co-founder of Challenge to change.

>> My Dream now to make sure that nobody whether it be a man or a woman calls to the hardships of re-entry the way I did it is disheartening.

It's sometimes to moralizing.

It's like when I tell you, I crawled.

I crawled.

>> Offering words of encouragement.

Guest speakers included Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as the U.S.

House speaker.

>> Be your self.

Be yourself.

That's the most valuable can save you because there's nobody like you.

The specialness individuality, as keep saying of you be ready for any opportunity that they come along.

>> And surrounded by family, friends and supporters.

He's a 2 women took a moment to just how far they have come.

>> Congressional as My ala graduates, thank you.

>> Northwestern's prison education program has not only