NewsFox 13 News (WTVT) — Local NewsSeptember 14, 2026Hillsborough County
New College of Florida Researchers and Students Use Puppets to Teach Job Interview Skills to Osceola County Inmates
Photo: Fox 13 News (WTVT) — Local News
New College of Florida researchers and students are utilizing custom-built puppets to teach job interview skills to incarcerated men and women in Osceola County as part of a prison rehabilitation program.
Read the full story at Fox 13 News (WTVT) — Local NewsWhy It Matters
Incarcerated individuals in Osceola County receive specialized job interview training through an unconventional university partnership.
Key Facts
- New College of Florida researchers and students are conducting a prison rehabilitation program in Osceola County.
- The program uses custom-built puppets to teach job interview skills.
- Participants in the program include incarcerated men and women.
Who's Mentioned
PersonLeah Basaria“Former student who started the program and launched Light Line Reentry.”OrganizationUnited Arts of Central Florida“Provided a Community Impact Grant to fund the program.”PersonAlicia Byrne“Undergraduate student involved in the program.”locationKissimmee“City where the main library branch is located.”OrganizationJim Henson Foundation“Foundation that praised the project's creative impact.”locationHart Memorial Central Library“Main branch of the Osceola Library System displaying the inmates' custom puppets”OrganizationNew College of Florida“Researchers and students from the college partnered to deliver the program.”PersonTyler Fisher“Dr. Tyler Fisher led the project with undergraduate students.”locationOsceola County“Location of the inmates receiving the program”OrganizationOpen Scene“Performing arts non-profit that teamed up to deliver the workshops.”PersonJones Hogsed“Undergraduate student involved in the program.”OrganizationOsceola County Corrections Department“Department hosting the rehabilitation program for inmates.”OrganizationLight Line Reentry“Non-profit launched to track inmate success after release.”OrganizationOsceola Library System“Library system operating the Hart Memorial Central Library in Kissimmee.”