KENNESAW, GA (October 21, 2025) — T.M. Jefferson, who transformed his life after a 2005 gun charge and incarceration in New Rochelle, New York, has developed the Change The Game Educational Program to help justice-involved youth rewrite their personal narratives and break cycles of incarceration.
Jefferson, an author, educator and founder of the program, detailed his journey in the memoir “Change The Game: A Memoir.” During his time in prison, he reframed his narrative “not as a victim of circumstance, but as an architect of his future,” leading to the creation of the 12-week curriculum launched in 2024 in partnership with the New Rochelle Community Justice Center.
The program emphasizes identity transformation over behavioral modification, with four modules: Identity for reshaping self-perception; Power for emotional intelligence and self-mastery; Strategy for critical thinking and goal-setting; and Legacy for community impact plans. Participants use an 118-page workbook with guided exercises and reflection prompts, adaptable for correctional facilities, schools and community centers.
Early pilots at the center have shown participants reporting increased confidence, clarity and purpose. J. Williams, an educator and program participant, said: “This workbook challenged me to dig deeper, write with purpose, and take control of my narrative. T.M. Jefferson has created something powerful, it’s a life-changing experience.”
Jefferson’s initiative addresses stark statistics: more than 700,000 people are released from U.S. prisons annually, with 67% returning within three years, amid $80 billion spent yearly on incarceration. He noted that each person who breaks the cycle saves taxpayers more than $35,000 annually while strengthening families and creating safer neighborhoods.
Change The Game 6-City Tour
To expand the program nationally, Jefferson announced the Change The Game 6-City Tour, set for May 2026. The tour will deliver free workbooks and workshops to 300 participants in correctional facilities, community organizations, schools and universities across six cities, including a return to New Rochelle. It aims to engage more than 500 community members and forge six new long-term partnerships.
Funding the $12,000 tour through a GoFundMe campaign, Jefferson will allocate $6,000 for program materials like workbooks and guides, $4,000 for travel and lodging, and $2,000 for outreach and miscellaneous costs. Donor levels range from $10 to support the movement to $1,000 or more for city sponsorship and recognition.
Jefferson described the effort as investing in “transformation” and “freedom,” stating: “The system treats symptoms. CTG transforms identities. I built CTG as tools for survival… because every story can be rewritten.”
For more details or to donate, visit the campaign at https://gofund.me/a20f41536 or the program’s site at www.ctgpro.org.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
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