The Community Hears Free Minds Poets!
Hear Us Out! 2009

Nearly 500 people came to downtown Washington, DC to hear the words of incarcerated youth at the 6th Annual Free Minds Poetry Reading. The 6th & I Historic Synagogue was filled almost to capacity with family members, attorneys, judges, writers, artists, business people, schoolchildren, activists, neighbors, and regular DC residents who came to see what all the excitement was about. Guests brought donations of paperback books which would be distributed at the DC Jail. The evening was emceed by local favorite WKYS disc jockey, EZ Street, who warmed up the audience before introducing nine young Free Minds members who are now back home in the community. Each young man stood at the mic and read their own poetry as well as the words of their fellow members who are still incarcerated.

Audience members alternately laughed, cheered, and even cried upon hearing the hopes, dreams and regrets of poets like 18 year-old Delonte, who had been released from jail just one week earlier after being charged and incarcerated as an adult at the age of 16. In his poem, Change-Like Symptoms, Delonte described a desperate desire for a positive new direction.

 

Change-Like Symptoms

I refuse to stay in park and become rusty and old
I want my value to go up
So I’ll always be worth bein’ sold
You can be stubborn and stay the same
But I’ma make a quick change
Like a Lamda switching lanes
Tryin’ to get to its destination
One thing people fail to do
Is make change—a revelation
You need it to get places in life
Well I’ma make an upgrade
While you clowns stay in clown stage
I’m glad unique sticks to me like glue
I’m daring to be different
I’m feeling sick with change-like symptoms

It was his first time performing in front of an audience, and Delonte said he had to pray to make his knees stop shaking. Despite his nerves, the appreciation and applause of the crowd and the chance to give voice to the young men still behind bars made it all worth it. “I can’t wait to do this again next year!” he said.

The final piece was an original performed by nationally acclaimed poet, Messiah who had also served as a coach for the event, teaching the young men the art of spoken word performance.

The presentation concluded with the debut of “Hear Us Out!” a rap song written, produced and recorded by Free Minds members with the help of local artist Head-Roc. The song was received with wild applause and a promise by EZ Street to air it on the radio.

At a reception following the reading, guests enjoyed refreshments and mingled with the poets, buying hand silk-screened t-shirts and the Hear Us Out! poetry book which they then had autographed.

“This is my favorite part!” said 21 year-old poet and first-time performer Terrance as he signed a book for a woman who had driven all the way from New Jersey to attend the event.

To all of those who came, listened and heard, thank you for believing in our youth!

Read local press coverage of the event.

Hear excerpts of the poetry reading from Coffeehouse TV

Supporter Profile

Read a new profile of our supporter, Ms. Soncyree Lee, Principal Incarcerated Youth Program.

Paulo's Story

Paulo was just 17 years old when he was charged and incarcerated as an adult at the DC Jail.

When he looks back he sees a lost young man with no goals or dreams. “I didn’t think much about my future or my life. I lived day-by-day. I was too preoccupied with hanging out with my friends, stealing and causing problems,” he says now.

“I didn’t like to read or write before I came to prison,” says Paulo. “It bored me…I was in the 10th grade and I didn’t even know how to compose a complete sentence.”

Left: Paulo graduates from the GED program at Petersburg Federal Prison

All of that changed when Paulo joined Free Minds. Initially, the first time he was told it was time for “Book Club,” Paulo attended only because he was so desperate to leave the isolation of his cell. But it was that one Monday morning that he says helped him change his life.

“Thanks to Free Minds, I now place a great value in books and in writing,” he says. “I have come to understand why so many people hold on to their books and writing as a treasure…Free Minds has taught me how to select books and how to value them, and in writing, how to free my mind and be creative. What it has emphasized to me, moreover, is that reading and writing are fun! Free Minds was the kick a car needs to sometimes start.”

Since his transfer to federal prison, Paulo has remained in touch with Free Minds. He not only receives letters regularly, but also new books. “Every book that I have received from Free Minds has taught me something. I always learn something form a book whether it’s a new word, a new writing style, or a new idea,” he says. “Books are always leaving a mark on my life.” The book that has had the greatest impact upon Paulo is A Place to Stand, the autobiography of acclaimed poet Jimmy Santiago Baca. “He writes about what I’m going through,” Paulo says. “I speak not of the physical, but of the mental struggles and of how he dealt with them. I see myself following his footsteps.”

Paulo also writes to his Free Minds volunteer pen pal, Kristen. “Over the years, I never thought that I would meet someone like my pen pal,” he says. “It is people like her that make one reflect upon one’s life.”

Paulo has come a very long way since he first came to Free Minds at the DC jail in 2003. He has not only earned his GED, but he now teaches courses to other inmates in federal prison helping them to pursue higher education. In 2007, he and a partner developed a seminar to teach other inmates how to get their GED and earn a bachelor’s degree while incarcerated. Paulo has already successfully completed three college courses and earned high grades in all of them. He plans to obtain his undergraduate degree and then pursue graduate school to become a psychologist.

“Changes are happening everyday in my life,” Paulo says. “I see myself as more mature…I have become more caring and responsible. Finally, I have changed my entire perspective on how I should live my life.”

To read more success stories click here.