is an Educational Based Recovery Environment. We acknowledge the value of creating projects, programs and spaces conducive to facilitating literacy, while simultaneously supporting mental wellness and recovery. The inspiration to create the ULG came in 2017, while providing services as a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) at Pennsylvania’s State Correctional Institution Greene. Upon launching the initial ULG, I found that although I had anticipated functioning in the capacity of a tutor, facilitation of group sessions greatly demanded my skills as a CPS as well. Immediately, it was obvious that many of the men were deeply scarred by their life’s experiences, and that their academic challenges were part of their trauma. Understanding, signs of stress, anxiety, depression, and fear created great obstacles to academic advancement and created further barriers to group commitment. Recognizing those issues, coupled with embarrassment and shame, it quickly became apparent that it was necessary to transition from a strictly academic approach, to that of creating recovery based environments that support adult literacy.”