How you can stir up some ‘good trouble’ through causes John Lewis supported

September 19, 2020

Free Minds was honored to be included in this list of causes supported by the late Congressman John Lewis. Lewis visited members of our program…

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Returning Citizens Talk Criminal Justice Reform

October 3, 2019

This spring, Free Minds collaborated with national nonprofit The Education Trust, who through a network of motivated advocates, fights to achieve high academic achievement for…

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PBS NewsHour Highlights Free Minds Book Club

September 3, 2019

For nearly two decades, we have witnessed young Free Minds members evolve into men whom have become avid readers, students, leaders, advocates, authors, educators, role…

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Free Minds Members Changing the Narrative on Book TV!

June 5, 2019

Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop is spreading the message of “books and belonging,” as we like to say, on a national platform! We…

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Author Danielle Evans Visits Book Club at DC Jail

January 10, 2019

Danielle Evans, acclaimed author of the short story collection Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self, sat down with the members of one of our…

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Author Tiffany Jackson Visits Free Minds Book Club at New Beginnings

December 21, 2018

Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop launched its book club at New Beginnings Youth Development Center in Fall 2018. A residential treatment facility for…

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Free Minds on PBS: The Great American Read

November 1, 2018

This fall, Free Minds members made history! Free Minds was featured in a nationally televised program, PBS’s The Great American Read. 

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Author and Poetry Slam Champion Elizabeth Acevedo Visits Free Minds Book Club at the DC Jail

September 27, 2018

The author and self-proclaimed spoken word artist Elizabeth Acevedo, who is no stranger to titles (National Poetry Slam Champion and author of New York Times…

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Best-Selling Author Jason Reynolds Speaks to Youth at the DC Jail

August 29, 2018

We cannot be what we cannot see. – Jason Reynolds, New York Times best-selling author What would be your first purchase if you signed a…

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Free Minds Celebrates Congressman John Lewis Fellowship

July 20, 2018

On July 17, Free Minds staff, Poet Ambassadors, and friends gathered at Pepco Edison Place Gallery to celebrate the new Free Minds Congressman John Lewis…

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Free Minds staff on the Atlantic’s “The Art of Re-Entry” panel for Justice in America!

May 15, 2018

Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop was invited to amplify our members’ voices at the Atlantic’s “Justice in America” event in May. Grateful for…

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All the World’s a Stage: Shakespearean actors bring theater to the DC Jail

May 8, 2018

“Hope!” “Tears!” “Pain!” These are just some of the words shouted out by more than 20 orange-clad men crowded onto the floor of a tiny…

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David Barclay Moore Speaks to DC Jail Book Club

November 23, 2017

Before David Barclay Moore, author of his debut young adult novel Stars Beneath Our Feet, even got a chance to introduce himself, he was peppered…

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Free Minds Goes to Philadelphia

October 25, 2017

In October, the Free Minds team (staff and Poet Ambassadors Terrell, Roderick, and Nokomis) hit the road to participate in a conference in Philadelphia, PA,…

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Baltimore Author D. Watkins Speaks to DC Jail Book Club

August 29, 2017

On a Thursday afternoon at the DC Jail, a group of men arranged chairs in a circle on the floor of the unit, surrounded on…

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Authors Coe Booth and Patricia McCormick Share Their Stories at the DC Jail

May 11, 2017

By Mbachur Mbenga This spring, teenagers in our Book Club at the DC Jail had the incredible opportunity to learn from two talented and generous…

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Free Minds Wins Renewal Award

April 24, 2017

In 2017, Free Minds was honored to receive the Renewal Award for Ingenuity from the Atlantic and Allstate. Free Minds was one of five winners…

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Former Child Soldier Emmanuel Jal Visits Free Minds Reentry Book Club

March 31, 2017

“When you are in a poor environment, you go into survival mode. Like me, you’ve all been to hell. But you came back!” Emmanuel Jal,…

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Free Minds at AWP Writer’s Conference

February 23, 2017

By Aubry Ellison, Free Minds Intern Every year, the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) offers the largest literary conference in the nation with…

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A Classroom Full of Hope

January 31, 2017

Guest post by Karen Lausa, Executive Director of Words Beyond Bars and Friend of Free Minds We pulled into the parking lot of the M.V.…

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