Crafts with Conviction (CwC) is a partnership with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) and the Ohio Department of Youth Services (ODYS). Incarcerated men, women, and youth transform raw materials into valuable learning products for teacher and student use.  

A variety of donations, either in excessive quantities (400,000 bottle caps, anyone?) or typically considered discards (remnant fabric, empty tennis ball tubes) are reimagined and reinvented through this extraordinary community collaboration. 

Program Highlights:

  • 16 Facilities participating

  • 75+ unique educational items in production targeting PreK – 6th grade

  • Distributed 144,620 items valued at more than $718,800 during the 2024-2025 school year

Through a 2020 survey of some of the incarcerated individuals participating as CwC volunteers we learned: 

  • Over 75% are motivated to complete volunteer activities for Crayons to “give back” to their community. 

  • Nearly 60% learn a new skill or strengthen their skill set through CwC participation. 

  • Roughly 90% believe the projects are a helpful contribution to teachers and classrooms.

  • Nearly ALL CwC volunteers believe the work they are doing makes a difference.

Additional relationships that enhance the CwC program:

Local Colleges, Universities, CPS District Mentors, Adopt A Class, 1n5, and 4C for Children

  • Help design new and needed products for ODRC and ODYS facilities to assemble

  • Evaluate current products for educational relevancy

  • Support workshop opportunities for teachers that provide additional opportunities to utilize CwC products in the classroom

  • Expose new teachers to Crayons’ Teacher Resource Center

  • Use CwC manipulatives to help bring educational lessons to life for students

Local businesses with surplus materials!

Dedicated weekly volunteers who donate their time to ensuring the Teacher Resource Center is stocked with CwC products, including seasonally appropriate additions!

Are you interested in donating your time, talent, or treasures specifically towards making CwC possible? Have questions about how the process works? Want to learn more about CwC products?

Contact: 

Lauren Roberts
Program Manager, Product Innovation & Partnerships
lroberts[at]crayons2computers.org