User:Seifuddin

Seifuddin M.A. Simpson has recently become one of the most interesting motivational speakers to hit the stage. This former inmate of Graterford State Prison is one of the most inspiring “Jail to Yale” type stories to hit the airwaves. While incarcerated at Pennsylvania’s largest men’s facility he used his time wisely. Not only did he earn a State Barber License but attended college courses which were brought inside the famous walls of the popularized prison. SCI Graterford was the subject of the largest raid on any prison in America when staff “took back” the prison which was allegedly controlled by inmates for several years. Seifuddin’s story is unique because not only did he experience the raid first hand he was also in the riot that occurred at the Western Prison in 1986. This well spoken gentleman acquired a vast interest in prison reform because he had been wrongly convicted. He became one of the most well known “Jailhouse Lawyers” in Pennsylvania and even filed a litigation which now helps authorities determine how to legitimately double-cell inmates all across America. (See Seifuddin M.A. Simpson vs. Martin T. Horn, et al.) While incarcerated he was considered an extensive prisoner’s rights civil litigator and his writings were so good that the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office even questioned whether or not he was an attorney when he fought their motions seeking the right to have his pleadings judged by the less than stringent standard. Unfortunately, that initially was not enough to deter his errant behaviors. As a result he spent approximately 15 years in and out of the system before accepting that there was light on the other side of the tunnel. Finally, diligently following the prescriptive program plan that was laid out and created by his counselors and himself he was able to get the tools needed to prevent him from being a recidivist. He has remained drug and alcohol free and pursued his academic dreams since his release in 2000. By jump starting his education inside, once released Seifuddin has been able to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Montgomery County Community College in 2003, Villanova University in 2006 with a 2.91 G.P.A., and will graduate from Springfield College in 2009 with a Masters Degree in Organizational Management and Leadership. This is truly not bad for someone that society thought could not be reformed. Therefore, Seifuddin’s message is “If I can change, anyone can”. With the climate of overcrowding in America’s Prisons and the struggle to keep our fellow citizens out of addiction, concerned citizens and treatment specialist desire to know what he has to say. He is now being invited to speak at forums which focus on what can be done to ease the transition from prison to citizenship, what alternative strategies are available and what is and is not being done properly. Seifuddin’s message clearly states that if there is no viable resources immediately available, or available to an inmate prior to release, a person returning to the community could very well suffer from “reentry shock” and not be able to maintain employment, housing, or further their education by going to school or learning a trade. There is no doubt that soon someone is going to want to write a book about this terrific guy. He is one of the best influences to come out our prisons recently. He truly is a real life “Cutty” the fictitious character on the HBO show “The Wire”. Anyone interested in having him speak or who desires to collaborate with some of the ongoing projects he involves himself with can contact him at Asadi Enterprises, Inc., P.O. Box 441, Chester, PA 19016-0441, Phone:(610)934-4829, Email: asadientinc@gmail.com.