Empowering incarcerated youths to write new chapters in their lives.
Free Minds uses books, creative writing, and peer support to awaken incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youths and adults to their own potential. Through creative expression, job readiness training, and violence prevention outreach, these poets achieve their education and career goals, and become powerful voices for change in the community.
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Lines: New Animated Short Film Featuring Free Minds Poetry
Poetry by Free Minds members Alfredo, Aundrey, DC, Myron, Tavon, and Terrell is featured in the new animated short film, “Lines,” by Claire Fleming and produced by Letitia Wright (starring Letitia Wright, Michael Kenneth Williams, Jodie Turner-Smith, Adepero Oduye and Riz Ahmed). Currently playing at the Toronto Black Film Festival from February 10 – February…
Read More ...Featured Poem
Judged Cover
I’m known on a last name basis
In a place
Where numbers come with faces
Will you ever know me
On a first name basis?
More than the name I mean
I’m more than a criminal, you see
I once had dreams
Our Impact in 2020
MEMBERS SERVED
EMPLOYMENT & EDUCATION PLACEMENT RATE
POEMS WRITTEN
Recidivism rate
IN THE PRESS
Pardoning Martinsville 7 Would Be a Start to Acknowledging Virginia’s History
(Op-Ed by Free Minds member Alfred in Juvenile Justice Information Exchange)See Story
‘Without Your Prison Number, You Don’t Exist’
(Op-Ed by Free Minds member Kevin in the Crime Report)See Story
