We Can Be the Change: Writing Solutions to Violence

Free Minds, PEN/Faulkner, and Shout Mouse Press presented a poetry reading and discussion on an innovative tool to end violence. 

On April 27, 2016, approximately 100 people filled the Lincoln Hall at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital for a very special reading and community dialogue presented by three nonprofits that have teamed up for a unique approach to violence prevention through the power of the written word.

PEN/Faulkner Writers in Schools works to foster an active and thoughtful next generation of readers by bringing professional writers and their recent works directly into DC classrooms for discussions about literature and life. Shout Mouse Press is a nonprofit writing program and a publishing house for unheard voices, and a new partner in publishing and distributing Free Minds poetry. PEN/Faulkner provides schools with copies of the Free Minds literary journal, The Untold Story of the Real Me: Young Voices from Prison, published by Shout Mouse Press. Free Minds Poet Ambassadors—formerly incarcerated young men who are home and working in the community—share poetry and personal stories and facilitate a discussion on the causes and consequences of youth incarceration. Together, these three nonprofits are committed to nurturing and sharing the unique voices of DC’s youth.

On April 27, Free Minds unveiled this powerful collaboration to the public at We Can Be the Change: Writing Solutions to Violence.

The evening began with volunteers from the audience reading excerpts from The Untold Story of the Real Me, and two books of essays by Ballou High School students, published by Shout Mouse Press (Our Lives Matter and How to Grow Up Like Me).

Three Free Minds Poet Ambassadors shared poetry by fellow Free Minds members who are currently incarcerated, and spoke about their own experiences with incarceration and reentry. James shared how creative writing helped him cope with prison, especially solitary confinement. Varvie spoke about lessons he’s learned since getting caught in the street life at a young age and spending a decade behind bars. “I owe myself to show myself I can do it. I can make a change,” he said. “It’s all up to you to make that change within yourself. Knowledge is power.” Finally, Robert, who was incarcerated as an adult when he was 16 years old in 1994, spoke about coming home after more than twenty years in prison. He graduated from the Free Minds Job Readiness and Personal Skill Building Apprenticeship and is now working full-time in retail. “After doing all that time, there was no way I could have made it on my own.”

Robert read this short poem by a young man named Juwan who is still incarcerated:

Why have dreams
If dreams don’t come true
I don’t have dreams
I have nightmares

Robert said, “I want to give a special thanks to Free Minds for giving guys like Juwan a dream even though he doesn’t have any and I want to thank you guys for helping me accomplish some of my dreams.”

After the Poet Ambassadors’ presentation, the audience listened to panelists Juan (Free Minds Poet Ambassador), Felicia Jordan (teacher at Eastern Senior High School), and Ballou High School students and writers Ayonna Williams and Meashja Hamilton.  

Juan shared his poem, “Da Struggle,” and spoke about speaking to middle and high school students as part of the violence prevention outreach program, “On the Same Page: Free Minds Poetry in the Classroom and Community.”

Felicia Jordan, who has brought the “On the Same Page” program to her classroom several times (including one session that was featured in a front-page article in the Washington Post), spoke about the impact on her students and the value of introducing them to relatable texts and authors. “It’s important to allow students to know that they themselves have stories within them. They may not know it and sometimes all it takes is to hear someone else share their own…You have something within you that is worth listening to.”

Ayonna Williams, a senior at Ballou High School, shared her story of connecting to her incarcerated father through writing—something she has in common with Juan, who she met at an “On the Same Page” event when he spoke to her class. Meashja Hamilton, a junior at Ballou, spoke about how writing helped her express difficult emotions and communicate with others.

At the end of the evening, Free Minds Poet Ambassador Carlos read the poem “Belonging to Love” by an incarcerated author. Carlos spoke about his own feelings of isolation and loneliness when he was incarcerated, the desire to belong to a supportive community, and the incredible impact of receiving feedback on his poetry from volunteers at Free Minds On the Same Page: Write Night events. Carlos said, “It sows the seeds of that connectedness that we so desire.”

To stay up-to-date on Free Minds events, join our mailing list! The next On the Same Page: Write Night will be May 25, at Seekers Church in Takoma.

May 25, 7:00-8:30 PM
Seekers Church* 
276 Carroll Street NW, Washington, DC 20012
Metro: Takoma (Red line)
*Entrance is in back

You can also read Free Minds writing on our poetry blog and purchase a copy of The Untold Story of the Real Me: Young Voices from Prison through our publisher, Shout Mouse Press.

Thank you to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation for making this event possible.