Do More 24 on Thursday, June 4

June 1, 2015

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…

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BleakHouse Awards Ceremony: A chance to hear a different point of view

April 23, 2015

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…

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February Apprenticeship Program Graduates Six Free Minds Members

April 23, 2015

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…

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You’re Invited: Poetry Reading and Discussion

April 15, 2015

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…

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Teaching Others to Tell Their Own Stories

March 4, 2015

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…

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Free Minds on the Front Page!

March 3, 2015

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…

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Free Minds and Free Hearts at the Department of Education

January 27, 2015

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…

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Author Shaka Senghor Talks Writing, Transformation

January 22, 2015

“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…

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Author George Pelecanos Visits the Free Minds Book Club

January 12, 2015

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…

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The Power of Public Speaking

January 9, 2015

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…

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My Introduction to Free Minds

August 28, 2014

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…

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Poet Ambassadors Bringing Confidence, Inspiration

August 20, 2014

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…

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Free Minds Poets in Tacenda Literary Magazine

July 24, 2014

On Thursday, March 27th, several Free Minds members were recognized at the annual BleakHouse Publishing Awards Ceremony. BleakHouse Publishing is an independent, non-profit press dedicated…

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Looking Through a Window from Prison

July 4, 2014

Free Minds had the privilege of participating in a collaborative photography project called Windows from Prison, directed by photographer Mark Strandquist. In April, several of…

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“A Wonderfully Moving Experience”

June 30, 2014

In April, the Free Minds Outreach Team took the On the Same Page program to the University of DC David A. Clarke School of Law.

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Celebrating our Free Minds Apprentices

May 20, 2014

Two Free Minds Reentry Support members (former Book Club members who are now home from prison), Anthony and Delonte, have just completed the Free Minds…

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“Show Me a Better Way”

May 20, 2014

On March 31, Free Minds and the PEN/Faulkner Foundation hosted the second annual poetry reading and community dialogue at the Hill Center at the Old…

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Hill Harper Visits Book Club

May 20, 2014

In November, author, activist, and actor (CSI and Covert Affairs) Hill Harper visited the juvenile unit at the DC Jail to talk with Book Club…

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“On the Same Page Reaches Many Audiences”

May 28, 2013

Free Minds’ “On the Same Page” outreach program visited both Cesar Chavez Public Policy High School and Center City Public Charter School in Spring 2013.…

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Free Minds Branches Out!

April 28, 2013

In April, Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop assumed programming duties for The Beat Within writing workshop at New Beginnings Youth Development Center, DC’s…

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