A program inside a Utah prison is helping participants rethink their choices, build empathy and embrace second chances
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NEED TO KNOW
- Inmates in Utah are taking part in weekly “kindness classes” inside prison
- The program focuses on empathy, accountability and personal growth
- Participants say it’s helping them choose a different path forward
Inside prison walls, a group of inmates is learning that change can begin with something as simple — and powerful — as kindness.
In a Facebook post shared by the Utah Department of Corrections, officials highlighted a program designed to help individuals rethink their paths through intentional acts of compassion. The weekly “Kindness Class,” offered in partnership with the One Kind Act A Day Foundation, encourages participants to reflect on their choices and the impact they have on others.
“Individuals inside are speaking up about what second chances truly mean to them: growth, accountability, the opportunity to choose a different path and ‘be better people,’ ” the department shared.
The program goes beyond simple lessons, focusing instead on reshaping mindset and relationships. Participants are encouraged to build empathy, take responsibility and recognize that change is possible — but only if they choose it.
According to reporting by ABC4, the classes take place once a week and recently included a panel where participants shared their experiences. The conversation was livestreamed, giving others a window into how the program is affecting those inside.
For many inmates, the message resonates deeply.
“A lot of us are people who have been through some hard things… and we can choose to let that tear us down… or we can rise above that… and we can be better people,” one participant shared.
The initiative was created by the Semnani Family Foundation as part of a broader effort to give back to the community. Founder Khosgraw Semnani said the goal is rooted in something simple but impactful.
“I have lived in Utah for 56 years and I owe the people of Utah to do something good for them,” he said, per ABC4.
Bringing the program into prisons wasn’t part of the original plan — but it quickly became one of its most meaningful applications.
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“The prison is one place that we need to empower individuals with humanity,” Semnani said. “And the best way to empower them is through kindness.”
For those taking part, the lessons are about more than the present moment. They’re about building a future shaped by different choices.
At its core, the program reflects a belief shared by the department itself. “When one thing changes, everything changes,” the Utah Department of Corrections said in its post.
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