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“Free Minds, just with books, poetry, and expressing myself, they saved my life. Not from harm or death, but from giving up.” – Andre

Watch this video by Sojourners Magazine about Free Minds member Rafael whose poem “Peace” is in our literary journal, The Untold Story of the Real Me:…

Our Oct. 17th launch party sold out, but you can still help us share the voices of incarcerated youth, and hear some of those voices…

Join us on Saturday, October 17th, for a very special event celebrating the launch of our newest literary journal, The Untold Story of the Real…

By Jess Lawson, Communications and Outreach Coordinator This June, Free Minds had the great pleasure of participating in a collaborative music and poetry event as…

The Aspen Institute honored Free Minds with the $25,000 Aspen Ideas Award to replicate our poetry program connecting individuals with outside community members nation-wide.

We were honored to host Richard Gold, founder and director of the Pongo Teen Writing Project, for a series of events aimed at sharing techniques…

Our City Festival Our Voices (Live Performance) Curated By: Chris Ousley & Free Minds Date: June 7, 2015 Time: 3-5 pm Location: Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library’s Great Hall…

Make your gift count. Support Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop on Thursday for Do More 24, a special day of giving. This year, we…

By Jess Lawson, Free Minds intern On Thursday, March 26, students, poets, professors, and social justice advocates alike gathered for a night of celebration and…

By Jess Lawson, Free Minds intern Congratulations to Anthony, David M., David T., Josh, Ricardo, and Tavon, who recently graduated from the Free Minds Job…

Join us on Monday, April 20, from 7-8:30 pm at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital for an evening of poetry and community…

You’re Invited! Join us on Monday, March 30, for a workshop on teaching therapeutic writing for youth, led by Richard Gold of the award-winning Pongo…

Check out the article from the front page of The Washington Post “How a book club is helping to keep ex-offenders from going back to jail” by…

By Jess Lawson, Free Minds Intern “It means that somebody cares, even if they don’t know you,” said Gary, a Free Minds member and Poet…

“It’s hard to look at y’all in those orange jumpsuits,” the imposing muscle-bound man told young members of Free Minds as they filed into the…

Even famous authors have to deal with rejection. That’s what veteran DC crime novelist, George Pelecanos told Free Minds Book Club members who gathered in…

By Sherman Justice “Free Minds has taught me that being the griot of your own personal story is one of the greatest attributes that you…

By JoAnne Allen A book is a small thing to share with somebody. Yet a book can lead to big changes in the life of…

By Free Minds Intern Maddie Mitchell As an intern who has heard extensive positive feedback about Free Minds’ various initiatives but has never actually seen…