"I have been around many veterans. They are trained to be tough and do not tend to share their feelings or be vulnerable. There were 25 veterans in that circle and they all expressed themselves and showed vulnerability. I have never seen a group of program graduates all speak up before in that setting, much less in the way those men did. I would like to implement the Academy in all of our PA VSUs, for the 600 men and women in them."
- Mike C. PA DOC Statewide Veterans Coordinator

In the summer of 2023, Shining Light began offering the Shining Light Academy in the Veterans Service Unit at SCI-Dallas, a specialized unit where 140 veterans carry out their sentences. The vision for this unit was to create a holistic environment, enabling individuals to become the best versions of themselves as they prepare for re-entry.

With a shared military experience, the unit's director envisioned a community focused on mutual support and daily improvement. During a recent in-person graduation, he remarked, "I was looking for how to do that, and Shining Light came along. This program brought those things to the unit in a way I could not find a way to do in the years before."

The program's impact is profound, creating a ripple effect where participants and graduates continually encourage each other to apply their learnings in meaningful ways. Initially, the first group included both volunteers and those who were "voluntold" to join. Today, there's a waiting list of eager participants, a testament to the program's success and the strong community it has fostered. Shining Light Academy is not just a program but a catalyst for transformation, helping veterans rediscover their potential and prepare for a brighter future.