A powerful scene unfolded this week inside the Central Treatment Facility (CTF) of the D.C. Jail: caps and gowns replaced orange jumpsuits, and the usual sound of clanging doors gave way to applause and celebration. More than a dozen incarcerated young men became the latest graduates of Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail, marking an emotional and transformative moment for students, educators, and families alike.
A Journey Fueled by Sacrifice and Redemption
Among the graduates was Tomar McWilliams, a returning citizen who made an extraordinary decision to complete his high school education. Rather than finishing his sentence in a federal prison, McWilliams requested a transfer to D.C. Jail to enroll in the Maya Angelou Academy program—despite knowing it would keep him behind bars longer.
“This was my last chance to get my high school diploma,” McWilliams shared. “I had to make a sacrifice for my freedom. I knew what I needed for when I got back into the community.”
For McWilliams, who had dropped out before the pandemic, this diploma represents more than academic achievement—it’s a promise of a better future. Now 24 years old, McWilliams aged out of the standard K–12 program, which only serves residents up to age 22. However, thanks to the Charles H. v. District of Columbia class-action settlement, he and others were granted an extension…