Wakulla Correctional Institute inmates learn web development, life skills through coding program

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Inmates at the Wakulla Correctional Institute are learning skills that could turn their lives around after release.

On Friday, WCI “formally celebrated” the Persevere Program coming to its facility. Persevere is a year-long course focusing on training inmates to become full-stack web developers. It includes life skills classes and the opportunity to get help with transitional housing, according to officials.

The program launched at WCI on December 18 and one inmate told WCTV it’s making a difference for him as he anticipates his release later this year.

“You know this coding program, it not only gives you the option to have a career, but it also gives you the option to fulfill and provide for your family,” Bryan Loveland said.

Loveland says he plans to start an online business with the new skills he has gained from the course so he can enjoy being back at home with his children.

“So obviously the first thing I wanna do is see my family. That’s the most exciting thing, I’ve got twin boys, just turned 18,” Loveland shared.

Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon visited WCI to learn about the program’s impact. He said it provides the balance of giving inmates a second chance and lowering the risk of repeat offenses in the community.

Persevere founder Sean Hosman also took part in the visit. Hosman said the idea for the program came to him after he was released from jail himself.

“Along the way because of life troubles, I became an alcoholic and an addict and because of that, that causes a lot of destruction and that went through my life and I went to jail 12 times,” Hosman said.

Hosman said he became sober in 2012 and used his advanced technology skills to transform his life. His organization has grown and now operates in several states, according to Persevere’s website.

“A big public safety mission while giving them their life back, their families and their dad and their mom, a chance to provide for their families again,” he said.

He says the inmates have the opportunity to earn six certifications in the program and graduate as full-stack web developers. It’s a career they can thrive in, he said.

“We really wanted to take technology and give them a job we knew they could get and one that was going to be a career-based job, one that would be a high-paying job and just to be a little philosophical teaching them coding is teaching them a new language,” Hosman stated.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story misspelled Bryan Loveland’s name. It has since been updated.

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