How you can stir up some ‘good trouble’ through causes John Lewis supported
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…
Read More →Returning Citizens Talk Criminal Justice Reform
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…
Read More →PBS NewsHour Highlights Free Minds Book Club
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…
Read More →Free Minds Members Changing the Narrative on Book TV!
Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop is spreading the message of “books and belonging,” as we like to say, on a national platform! We…
Read More →Author Danielle Evans Visits Book Club at DC Jail
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…
Read More →Author Tiffany Jackson Visits Free Minds Book Club at New Beginnings
Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop launched its book club at New Beginnings Youth Development Center in Fall 2018. A residential treatment facility for…
Read More →Free Minds on PBS: The Great American Read
This fall, Free Minds members made history! Free Minds was featured in a nationally televised program, PBS’s The Great American Read.
Read More →Author and Poetry Slam Champion Elizabeth Acevedo Visits Free Minds Book Club at the DC Jail
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…
Read More →Best-Selling Author Jason Reynolds Speaks to Youth at the DC Jail
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…
Read More →Free Minds Celebrates Congressman John Lewis Fellowship
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…
Read More →Free Minds staff on the Atlantic’s “The Art of Re-Entry” panel for Justice in America!
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…
Read More →All the World’s a Stage: Shakespearean actors bring theater to the DC Jail
“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…
Read More →David Barclay Moore Speaks to DC Jail Book Club
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…
Read More →Free Minds Goes to Philadelphia
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,…
Read More →Baltimore Author D. Watkins Speaks to DC Jail Book Club
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…
Read More →Authors Coe Booth and Patricia McCormick Share Their Stories at the DC Jail
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…
Read More →Free Minds Wins Renewal Award
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…
Read More →Former Child Soldier Emmanuel Jal Visits Free Minds Reentry Book Club
“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,…
Read More →Free Minds at AWP Writer’s Conference
By Aubry Ellison, Free Minds Intern Every year, the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) offers the largest literary conference in the nation with…
Read More →A Classroom Full of Hope
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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