Rebekah Mende is the Vocational Trades Instructor in Sustainability with Maine State Prison. The maximum-security correctional facility is well known for its robust horticultural program, which engages residents in the growing of food for the prison’s dining services and local food pantries. The prison has also partnered with UMaine Cooperative Extension to offer a horticultural training program for prison residents looking to develop skills in the horticulture industry. In addition to providing meaningful job-readiness training for residents, the garden and compost programs have led to significant cost savings for the facility. Rebekah holds an MS in Food Systems and Society from Marylhurst University and received a Bachelor of Science in Community Development from Portland State University. She has focused her work in prison food reform for over 10 years with combined experience in both private sector prison advocacy as well as present day security informed experience. She is dedicated to growing and maintaining the prison food reform movement as well as rehabilitation through education and opportunity. She would like to thank the residents of MSP for trusting her leadership and contributing to the success of such a meaningful program.