Free Minds Book Club Celebrates Councilmember Charles Allen, The Hill Is Home
July 18, 2024
Free Minds Member Damon on Takoma Radio, Talk of Takoma (12/3/23, 1:05-1:29)
December 3, 2023
Former winners reflect on Courage Award’s impact, Global Fund for Children
May 16, 2023
Free Minds Book Club on the NFL Network, NFL Network
May 1, 2023
D.C. Has Been Giving Residents ‘Mini-Grants’ For Violence Prevention. Here’s How They’re Using Them, DCist
March 31, 2023
National Endowment for the Arts Announces First Round of Fiscal Year 2023 Grants, National Endowment for the Arts
January 10, 2023
Game Changers: We See You, NFL
December 29, 2022
This AWS-powered app lets users send photo postcards to their incarcerated loved ones, About Amazon
November 29, 2022
After prison, the formerly incarcerated embrace freedom through reading and writing, Black News & Views
September 2, 2022
PDF Version: ‘Do I deserve this?’ After doubt and depression, NBA star Carmelo Anthony of Baltimore is finding the answers, The Baltimore Sun
August 24, 2022
‘Do I deserve this?’ After doubt and depression, NBA star Carmelo Anthony of Baltimore is finding the answers, The Baltimore Sun
August 24, 2022
Poetry from Behind Bars (video), Takoma Park City TV
May 13, 2022
Building Bonds through Books, GW Today
August 22, 2022
FAMM, Free Minds release statement on DOJ reversing restrictions on books in federal prisons, Press Release
July 27, 2022
D.C.’s Incarcerated Residents Have The Right To Vote, But Sometimes It’s Easier Said Than Done, DCist
June 9, 2022
Healing in Painful Times, Barbara Harman, LinkedIn
June 1, 2022
The Cruel Practice of Banning Books Behind Bars, Vera Institute of Justice
April 5, 2022
Nonfiction for Young Adults Is ‘Real Reading’, Kirkus
February 8, 2022
2022 In the Margins Book Awards Announced, School Library Journal
January 31, 2022
NFL Awards Grant To DC Nonprofit Helping Formerly Incarcerated, Patch DC
January 21, 2022
When Writing Calls Forth More Than Words, BitterSweet Monthly
December 31, 2021
Kirkus Review: When You Hear Me (You Hear Us), Kirkus
October 26, 2021
Ward 7 ANC Commissioner Joel Castón is free after 26 years of incarceration, NPR
November 24, 2021
First they were ignored. Now, they’re being sent far from their families and attorneys., Washington Post
November 6, 2021
After Inspection Finds ‘Systemic Failures’ At D.C. Jail, 400 Residents Will Be Moved, DCist
November 3, 2021
When prison doors swing open, these mentors open their arms, The Christian Science Monitor
October 1, 2021
Spotlight on Free Minds, Global Seva Corps
August 31, 2021
‘This is about righting wrongs’: Va. governor grants posthumous pardon to the ‘Martinsville 7’, NBC12
August 31, 2021
New Martinsville-area group, City Council are latest to seek justice for Martinsville Seven, Martinsville Bulletin
August 5, 2021
New Bill Aims To Keep D.C. Teens Out Of Adult Justice System, DCist article featuring Free Minds member Deangelo
June 30, 2021
Teens Can Get Swept Into Adult Prisons. D.C.’s Attorney General Wants To Change That, NPR article featuring Free Minds member Charlie and staff Keela
June 30, 2021
Youth Safety Awareness Initiative and Free Minds win 2021 Juliette Gimon Courage Awards, GlobeNewswire
May 20, 2021
14 Online Book Clubs You Can Join Right This Moment, Bustle
April 5, 2021
Pardoning Martinsville 7 Would Be a Start to Acknowledging Virginia’s History, Op-Ed by Free Minds member Alfred in Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
February 17, 2021
‘Without Your Prison Number, You Don’t Exist’, Op-Ed by Free Minds member Kevin in the Crime Report
February 1, 2021
What It’s Like to Vote From Prison, Slate
October 28, 2020
For Americans returning home from prison, having the right to vote means having a voice, The Renewal Project
October 28, 2020
How you can stir up some ‘good trouble’ through causes John Lewis supported, CNN
September 19, 2020
Since 2016, 11 states and D.C. have expanded voting rights for the currently and formerly incarcerated, Washington Post
September 12, 2026
Congressman John Lewis inspired young adults in DC to give back to their community after incarceration, WUSA9
July 18, 2020
Former D.C. inmates use virtual meetings for support, encouragement as they adjust to life outside prison, Washington Post
July 9, 2020
Closure of D.C.’s Only Men’s Halfway House Leaves Residents Scrambling for a Safe Place to Live, The Appeal
April 23, 2020
How Poetry Gave Voice to Three Men Who Grew up in Prison, Montgomery County Media
January 24, 2020
Washington Post Magazine: An issue written, illustrated and photographed by currently and formerly incarcerated Americans (Featuring Free Minds members Johnny and Demetrius)
November 4, 2019, Washington Post Magazine
How to End a Sentence (Featuring Free Minds members)
October 10, 2019, Washington City Paper
D.C. Residents Aren’t Buying a Trump-Appointed Prosecutor’s Campaign Against Criminal Justice Reform (Featuring Free Minds member Tyrone)
September 6, 2019, Slate
Free Minds’ Write Nights Connect Incarcerated DC Residents to Community
July 5, 2019, The Northwest Courier
At this D.C. jail, a book club offers a safe space
June 26, 2019, PBS NewsHour
I Thought I Knew My Father, Then I Met Him in Prison (By Free Minds Member Sergio)
June 11, 2019, The Marshall Project
Crossroads Radio Show with Roach Brown
June 11, 2019, WPFW
‘Books and brotherhood’: Her club aims to help prisoners start new chapters in their lives
June 4, 2019, Washington Post Magazine
DC lawmakers proposing to give convicted felons voting rights while in prison
June 3, 2019, WUSA 9
Free Minds Book Club: Empowerment
March 27, 2019, Postcards and Authors
Poetry Beyond Bars: Poem-A-Day Highlights Work of Incarcerated Writers
March 22, 2019, Book Riot
A Kind Voice Radio: Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop
February 28, 2019, A Kind Voice Radio
Free Minds on C-SPAN BookTV
January 19, 2019, BookTV on C-SPAN 2
The Great American Read: Heroes [Free Minds Book Club featured at 19:00]
September 25, 2018, PBS
Federal prisons abruptly cancel policy that made it harder, costlier for inmates to get books
May 3, 2018, The Washington Post
A Criminal Past, An Unwritten Future
April 2, 2018, The Atlantic
‘Our Minds Are Still Free:’ These Former Prisoners Find Strength Through Poetry
February 23, 2018, WAMU 88.5
Doing time far from home, D.C. prisoners face extra barriers to rehabilitation
December 14, 2017, The Washington Post
When Your 18th Birthday Gift Is a Transfer to Adult Prison
December 7, 2017, The Marshall Project
Local organizations to help out on Giving Tuesday
November 27, 2017, WTOP
Free Minds Write Night: Book Club and Brotherhood
November 22, 2017, Takoma Voice
Washington, D.C.: Jeune Et En Prison Aux États-Unis - Tour du monde #4 [French]
November 21, 2017, HugoDecrypte
D.C. Inmates Serve Time Hundreds Of Miles From Home. Is It Time To Bring Them Back?
August 10, 2017, WAMU 88.5
Inmates Book Club in DC Wins One of 4 ‘Outstanding Justice’ Awards
August 4, 2017, The Crime Report
An unconventional kinship is creating a path to healing for formerly incarcerated youth
August 2, 2017, The Renewal Project
The prison to entrepreneurship pipeline (FM Apprenticeship Trainer Marcus Bullock TED Talk)
July 20, 2017, TEDx Talks
US-Häftlinge schreiben Gedichte, um im Knast nicht kaputt zu gehen [English: US Prisoners write poems - translated from German]
German article (with English translation by Free Minds Volunteer Susie)
July 3, 2017, Jetzt
Books Behind Bars
April 13, 2017, The Atlantic
Building Social Change From the Bottom Up
March 30, 2017, The Atlantic
Giving a much-needed voice to prisoners through literature
March 10, 2017, The Renewal Project
Incarcerated Youth Writing New Chapters
March 2017, Bittersweet Monthly
When a Book Club Lends More Than Just Books
December 5, 2016, GOOD Magazine
Challenges Faced by Returning Citizens
December 13, 2016, NewsTalk WJLA
Imprisoned as Teens, Speaking Out as Free Men for Change in Juvenile System
November 16, 2016, Social Justice Solutions
Aspen Ideas: Helping prison inmates turn the page through poetry
July 2, 2016, The Aspen Times
Through Poetry, Colorado Inmates, Communities Work To Build Bridges
June 24, 2016, Colorado Public Radio
Viewpoint: Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop
April 20, 2016, NBC4
From "Ex-Offenders" to "Returning Citizens"
March 30, 2016, Prison Radio Around the World
'Free Minds Book Club' Empowers Young Inmates in D.C. Jail
March 16, 2016, ABC7/WJLA-TV
Atlanta Congressman, Civil Rights icon John Lewis visits D.C. Jail inmates
February 25, 2016, ABC7/WJLA-TV
Civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis encourages teens at D.C. jail
February 24, 2016, The Washington Post
John Lewis talks about his graphic novel — and his amazing life — to teenagers in jail
February 24, 2016, Yahoo News
Free Minds Spoken Word with DC Legendary Musicians Band (video, 3:05)
February 23, 2016, The Kennedy Center
Press Release: Colson Task Force Recommendations Fail to Address Urgent Requests of DC Advocates
January 26, 2016
Press Release: Authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely Speak to Juveniles Charged as Adults at DC Jail
January 21, 2016
Individual Silver Spring Coffeehouse Reopens
January 2016, The Washington Post
Re-Entry Program Gives Former Inmates a Fresh Start
December 2015, KCCI 8 News
Local Nonprofits Win 21st Century Solutions Grants
November 2015, NBC4
ED Tara Libert interview in Geneva Switzerland
October 2015, Congress Justice Juvenile 2015
Washington, DC, forum examines trauma-informed approaches to end school-to-prison pipeline
September 2015, ACES Too High News
Rewriting a Prison Sentence (full article)
September 2015, Sojourners Magazine
Obama im Knast (Obama in Jail)
August 2015, ZDF Media, English Translation (pdf)
D.C.-Based Writing Workshop For Incarcerated Youth Expands Across The Country
July 2015, DCist
Interview with Tara and Free Minds Member Eddie (interview starts at timecode 30:31)
July 2015, emPower Hour, WPFW 89.3 FM
An Ex-Con Is Probably Helping Prepare Your Meal
July 2015, Washington City Paper, featuring Free Minds member Will Avila's cleaning company, Clean Decisions
DAR's Impact on Communities Today (video, 3:50)
June 2015, Daughters of the American Revolution
Members of Free Minds Perform at "Our Voices" by Our City Festival 2015
June 2015, Video from the Our City Festival
Festival Uplifts Incarcerated Youth
June 2015, Street Sense
This Life: A jail term, a job and a second chance
April 2015, Washington Post article on Free Minds member Robert Barksdale
Free Minds: The Healing Brotherhood of a Book Club Behind Bars
April 2015, Montgomery Blair High School's SilverChips Article on Free Minds
Reading and Writing as Ticket Out of Solitary Confinement -- and Prison
April 2015, Huffington Post article on Free Minds member Phil Mosby
7 Questions: Tara Libert, Executive Director of Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop
April 2015, Catalogue for Philanthropy blog post
D.C. Public Library Pitches In To Create First-Ever Library For Inmates At D.C. Jail
March 2015, WAMU 88.5 American University Radio Listen
DC Jail Adds Library for Inmates (video)
March 2015, NBC Washington
How a book club is helping to keep ex-offenders from going back to jail
February 2015, Washington Post article on Free Minds members
From Felony To A Future: D.C. Man Works To Find A New Path In Life
January 2015, WAMU 88.5 American University Radio Listen
Eastern High School blog about the "On the Same Page" session
December 2014
Actor Hill Harper to Visit Juvenile Inmates in D.C.
November 2014
GWAC Supports Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop
November 2014, Greater Washington Area Chapter on Free Minds
An artist sent prisoners blank postcards - look at what he got back
November 2014, PBS article about Window from Prison
Free Minds road trip to Scranton
October 2014, University of Scranton Pennsylvania,"The Aquinas"
What D.C. prison inmates wish they could see from behind bars
October 2014, Washington Post article about Windows from Prison
Bruised optimism in a fight for survival, translated from the original Swedish
August 2014, Hufvudstadsbladet HBL, article about two Free Minds members
Beyond bars: US prisoners on the view they'd most like to see from their cells – in pictures
August 2014, The Guardian article about Windows from Prison photography project
Windows Without Prison Bars
July 2014, New York Times blog about Windows from Prison photography project
Ban the Box: Disclosing A Criminal Record When Job Hunting
July 2014, Huff Post Live segment feat. Outreach Coordinator Sherman Justice
How Banning One Question Could Help Ex-Offenders Land A Job
July 2014, NPR Morning Edition feat. Outreach Coordinator Sherman Justice
Why charging teenagers as adults makes everyone less safe
May 2014, Vox article about Judge Our Youth campaign feat. FM member Anthony
Book carts planned at DC jail by fall
April 2014, Washington Post article about DC Jail Library Coalition
Books Behind Bars: Community Action For Restorative Justice
April 2014, Street Sense article about the DC Jail Library Coalition
Book club for former inmates uses grant from GW to transform lives
March 2014, GW Hatchet
How Prison Book Club Can Reduce Crime (video)
Highlight reel featuring FM member Will Avila
March 2014, HuffPost Live
DC’s Youth Face Solitary Confinement in District Jails and Federal Prisons
December 2013, Solitary Watch
Reading To Break Recidivism
December 2013, Corrections.com
Co-Founder and Executive Director Tara Libert testifies on the importance of a library at the DC Jail, along with testimonies from Free Minds members Alisha, Maurice, and Deante.
Your Body's Not Free, but Your Mind Is
November 2013, Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
Flikshop Aligns Mission with Two Washington, DC Area Outreach Organizations
September 2013, Flikshop press release
In D.C., life after prison poses extra challenges for youths convicted as adults
September 2013, Washington Post article about Free Minds member Gary
Project Sets Imprisoned Minds Free
July 2013, Street Sense article about Write Night
The lifers book club: Of mice and men, hopes and regrets at the Limon prison
January 2013, Westword News article about Colorado Book Club inspired by Free Minds
Tara Libert: Motivating Youth to Pursue Positive Life Paths
December 2012, Linowes Award, The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region
Catalogue for Philanthropy Blog on Write Night
November 2012
ABC Channel 7 Feature on Seaport Foundation
Free Minds member Bobby, seen in this video, graduated from the Alexandria Seaport Foundation in August 2012
July 2012
Free Minds in Prison Education News
July 2012
Documentary about Free Minds member Michael Kemp by American University student Kaneia Mayo
May 2012
Shining a Light in the Darkness of Prison
Article about the power of reading in prison by formerly-incarcerated writer John Lash, April 2012
U.S. Department of Justice Issues New Regulations Protecting Children in Adult Jails and Prisons from Sexual Abuse
Press Release from Campaign for Youth Justice, May 2012
Campaign for Youth Justice Holiday Book Drive
Michael Kemp, Free Minds Reentry Coach and Member featured in an article in Deseret News
Scroll down to bottom to read about Michael!
Michael Kemp, Free Minds Reentry Coach and Member guest blogging for the Washington Post's The Root.
Catalogue for Philanthropy Giving Guide 2011
Free Minds featured grantee in DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Video
Catalogue for Philanthropy’s blog “Good Works” Profiles Program Director Juliana Ratner
Good Works, June 30, 2011
For one of Sudan's 'lost boys' and teens in D.C. jail, a shared struggle
Washington Post, October 8, 2010
Reader Spotlight: Ted and Gerald 'J-Man' Best, of Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop
Washington Post Book World, May 5, 2009
In Prison at the 'End of the Earth' - D.C. Youths are Jailed Across the U.S., Making Family Connections Difficult
The Washington Post, December 27, 2008
In Memoriam: Derrick Green and Chris Taylor
Street Sense, Page 9, August 2008
Reading Gives Inmates Hope for the Future
ABC 7 News, Friday Jan 25, 2008
His Body Imprisoned, His Mind Set Free
The Washington Post, Sunday Jun 10, 2007
An Outlet for Anger, and Fear
The Washington Post, Aug 7, 2004