In her early days at Swarthmore, Sahiba Tandon ’25 did what many ambitious first-years do — she signed up for everything. Armed with a stack of flyers from the activities fair and lured by the promise of free food, she ambled into a session for the Petey Greene Program, not knowing it would change the course of her life.

“When I joined the Petey Greene Program in Philadelphia, I was driven by curiosity and a love for tutoring and learning, but unsure what to expect,” Tandon says. “What I discovered working with the men at State Correctional Institution (SCI) Chester went beyond tutoring; I’ve grown in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”

That sense of growth and purpose has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this fall, the Petey Greene Program honored Tandon with the inaugural James S. Farrin Volunteer Award, recognizing her four years of service, leadership, and unwavering dedication to educational justice within carceral settings.

Founded on the belief that human connection and dignity are central to learning, the Petey Greene Program places college students in tutoring roles inside jails and prisons across Pennsylvania. The program is named after Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene, a pioneering Black media personality, community organizer, and civil rights activist who used his wit and popularity to spotlight structural inequality and systemic racism. 

“Volunteering with the Petey Greene Program is more than an opportunity to give back,” says Colette Johnson, the program’s executive director of business development and strategy. “It opens a door for the next generation of thought leaders, setting them on a path towards creating greater justice in our criminal legal system.”

The opportunity is more than volunteering, says Tandon, a political sociology special major from Lansdale, Pa. It’s a calling.

She began by tutoring individuals on probation and parole in Center City. Before long, she was traveling multiple times a week — often before dawn — from Swarthmore or her Lansdale home to SCI Chester, where she worked with incarcerated men preparing for their GED exams and college courses through Eastern University’s Prison Exchange Program.

“I’ve shared laughter, encouragement, and moments of struggle with students who, despite the constraints around them, bring so much dedication and resilience to their education,” Tandon says. “They often teach me more than I could ever teach them.”

In addition to tutoring math, science, and English, she found particular joy with her students in sessions focused on memoir writing and religious philosophy.

“Each week, we bridge gaps not only in knowledge but also in understanding,” Tandon says. “These shared experiences fill each encounter with a kind of warmth and joy that’s hard to put into words.”

She eventually stepped into the role of lead tutor at SCI Chester, a medium-security men’s prison. From picking up Swarthmore students at 7:30 a.m. to coordinating with prison staff, managing materials, and helping first-time volunteers navigate the system, she became a linchpin in the smooth operation of the tutoring site.

“I know that even on my worst mornings, tutoring is a space where I’ll experience joy and learn something new, even as a tutor,” Tandon says.

Tandon says she was stunned when she learned she had been selected for the James S. Farrin Volunteer Award.

“I tutor because it creates hope, community, and life in spaces that desperately need all three,” she says. “Tutoring has never felt like ‘work’ or something that needed recognition.” 

The award ceremony was both surreal and celebratory, she says. Surrounded by co-tutors, mentors, and even a formerly incarcerated woman Tandon had interviewed for her senior thesis, she was overwhelmed with gratitude.

“It was a magical night,” she says, “full of hope and wonder for the future with these incredible people.” 

The award was more than a personal honor for Tandon — it was a reflection of a journey deeply rooted in justice, empathy, and purpose.

“Every hour I’ve spent as a volunteer with the Petey Greene Program has reminded me of the kind of world I want to help create — one where everyone has access to learning, growth, and dignity,” says Tandon, who will pursue a law degree focused on public defense and wrongful convictions.

Watch video of Tandon receiving the volunteer award.