Book Club for Incarcerated Youth and Adults

Free Minds believes in the power of positive support, encouragement, and lifting one another up in a carceral environment designed to isolate. Our Prison Book Club brings this commitment to life by uniting with community volunteers to provide poetry feedback to incarcerated members, hosting letter writing workshops to communicate with members, facilitating book club discussions and sending books to members, publishing a quarterly magazine featuring members’ work, and celebrating creative expression in all its forms and mediums. With the help of supportive community members like you, Free Minds’ Prison Book Club creates a vital sense of connection, ensuring that while our members may be imprisoned, they are never alone. Thank you!

Liberation: The Latest Connect

Our latest issue of the Free Minds Connect—a magazine written by and for our members and mailed to readers in over 110 jails and prisons across the country—focused on the theme of liberation. It offered a powerful collection of personal reflections and creative expressions, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the emotional range of the liberation journey. One such reflection comes from Free Minds member RB, who explores what liberation means to him in his poem “Finally Free…,” featured in this edition.

Finally Free…

By RB

Finally Free!
Free from Oppression
Free from Depression
Finally Free
Free from chains
Free from pain
Finally Free
Free physically
Free mentally
But what does it mean to be truly Free?
Am I free if all the damage is still within ME?
Who is really Free?
When all the powers that be are still controlling thee?
Being Free is a Hell of a thing!
To be able to fully sing just to sing,
To be able to breathe the freshest breeze,
To go where one want to go,
To move as fluid as traffic flows,
Who at last can say I am finally Free?
I pray one day that will be me.

Moving essays, poems, and interviews illustrate the many ways liberation manifests—from the physical act of singing out loud, to using writing and creativity as a path to freedom. Member MG reflects on the mental and emotional aspects of liberation, stating, “The constant use of your mind creates a freedom that can never be taken.” As always, Free Minds’ Liberation Connect brings together diverse voices, offering reflections on liberation as both an individual and collective journey, and emphasizing Free Minds’ passionate belief that feeling seen, loved, heard, and accepted is at the core of our movement toward freedom.

Recruiting Volunteers: Letter Writer Circle Orientation

Free Minds’ Letter Writer Circle connects incarcerated members with the outside community. Every week, volunteers gather online to respond and write letters to members in federal prisons all over the U.S., many of them far from home. At the most recent orientation session for new volunteers, Free Minds Poet Ambassador Lydell spoke about his experience receiving letters from volunteers. He shared that much of his time served was spent in solitary confinement, where he was kept away from other people. Reading and writing became a coping mechanism for him on the inside, especially writing to community volunteers on the outside in the “free world,” as he called it. 

As Lydell shared, our incarcerated members rely on Free Minds for an essential support system. The Letter Writers Circle makes it possible for Free Minds to continue filling this vital role. We are so grateful to every volunteer who helps us expand this circle! 

Books Across the Miles: Creatures of Passage

Our Prison Book Club sends out books three times a year to incarcerated members in over 110 prisons across the country, as part of our Books Across the Miles program. The members are then provided with discussion questions in our Connect magazine to reflect on their individual exploration of each novel. 

Our latest selection, Morowa Yejidé’s Creatures of Passage, is set in a 1970’s Washington, D.C. and follows Nephthys, a cab driver haunted by the death of her twin brother and navigating life in a city filled with fractured lives and lingering ghosts. It is a novel about interconnectedness, survival, and the weight of memory. 

Free Minds member Pascale described her reaction to Yejidé’s portrayals of revenge in the novel, sharing: 

“Revenge doesn’t fix the past. Forgiving and love are the true values that make us spiritually grow and feel good.”

Child sexual abuse is a major theme throughout Creatures of Passage and when asked how families and communities can better support and protect children, Free Minds member AHA responded with his own reflections: 

“By caring for children by giving them support and listening whenever they try to communicate something and paying attention to their behavior. Also checking in with them often to let them know they can talk to you about anything. Never hesitating to reassure them that they will be believed. Some children won't open up thinking they won't be believed. So, it is essential to make them feel comfortable and change this narrative by ensuring they know we are trusted and there for them, as we should be.”

Our upcoming Books Across the Miles selection, chosen by our members, is The Other Wes Moore by Maryland Governor Wes Moore. This compelling memoir tells the true story of two men with the samename but vastly different paths, exploring how decisions, opportunities, and systemic forces shape our lives. Through a powerful lens of ancestry, kinship, and community, the book delves into the ripple effects of choices and the impact of family and environment. It is a poignant narrative of redemption and resilience, pointing toward a healing and restorative future. We’re eager to see the meaningful conversations this thought-provoking story will inspire among our book club members. Check back soon for updates!

The Power of Poetry: Reflections from Free Minds Write Night

Free Minds hosts virtual Write Night events each month, where volunteers join Free Minds Poet Ambassadors in a discussion about poetry and provide positive feedback on new poems by incarcerated Prison Book Club members.

At the latest Write Night, Poet Ambassadors Terrell and Victor shared powerful reflections on the transformative impact of poetry during and after incarceration. Both spoke candidly about how writing served as a vital outlet for self-expression and resilience in the face of isolation. For Victor, poetry was a means to confront feelings of loneliness, articulate his experiences, and rediscover his potential. He credited Free Minds for encouraging him to channel his thoughts into writing, which not only helped him process his emotions but also honed his reading and communication skills overall. Terrell emphasized the importance of pushing beyond one’s comfort zone after release, viewing poetry as a gateway to personal growth and a way to inspire others still behind bars. Both highlighted how creative writing can foster hope and provide a sense of purpose, even in the most challenging circumstances.

Reflecting on the work of currently incarcerated poets, Victor and Terrell connected deeply with the themes of isolation, freedom, and resilience in their writing. After reading Rodrick’s “Safe Place,” Victor noted that the imagery in this poem reflects a mental escape from the confines of prison walls, creating serene and empowering visions of freedom.

Here is the aforementioned poem by Rodrick, a Prison Book Club member:

Safe Place
By Rodrick

Four walls, muted blues,
View of oceans and scenic views.
The dew from the grass gives
a muted, fragrance
The white clouds fluffy and amazing,
A private nest, I keep close to my chest
When I am alone, I see I am 
truly blessed,
No loud noises,
No harsh faces,
Just me, myself, and I, 
In my safe place

Where I can finally cry.

Victor went on to describe how poetry builds a bridge between members’ internal and external worlds, helping individuals navigate their emotions and maintain hope. Terrell echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of community feedback in amplifying these voices and providing encouragement. Both stressed that poetry is more than just a creative outlet—it’s a lifeline for connection, self-discovery, and transformation for those who remain behind bars. Through their own experiences and reflections, they underscored the enduring impact of the Prison Book Club in fostering solidarity and empowerment through the written word.

As we look back on the poignant reflections and creative expressions shared by Free Minds members, it’s clear that these efforts—whether through books, poetry feedback, or community events—are more than just programs; they are lifelines that connect individuals to their communities and to one another. The stories of resilience, growth, and connection in our recent publications and events highlight the impact of a supportive, engaged network. These moments of transformation and healing happen because of the dedication and commitment of our broader community. None of this would be possible without the continued support of our generous donors! 

Links:

• Read the Free Minds Connect
• See what we're reading on Goodreads
• Follow us on Instagram

Here at Free Minds, we often speak of the “Free Minds family,” or the network of mutual care and support that members build among themselves and our staff and supporters. This sense of connectedness is the throughline for all of our programming, and especially for our Prison Book Club. Our members have continued to bring their creativity and vision to cultivating a sense of community through their writings and engagements with literature; this network is a valuable link to the outside while members are incarcerated.

Family Ties: The Latest Connect

The idea of the Free Minds family is especially relevant in light of our most recent edition of the Free Minds Connect, which centers on the theme “Ancestors.” The Connect, a magazine written by and for our members featuring poetry, articles, and book discussions, prompts members to think through new themes with edition. In contemplating the importance of ancestors, legacy, and family (both biological and chosen), members powerfully expressed connections between the past and the present, and they shared what family connections have meant to them. In just one example of this, Free Minds friend Michele shares how members of her family spanning generations stepped in to help her through her incarceration: as she says, “you can’t put a price on” the value of such relationships.

For a sampling of some more of these reflections, check out two of the poems featured in our “Ancestors” issue:

The Voice of My Ancestors by RS

You were special from birth
Someone created from earth
As ashes to ashes, from dust to dust
To infinity and beyond, utopia or bust
When in doubt, never worry or be afraid
We are always with you in spades
Life can be tough, a lot to learn
Keep going forward
What you advance, you earn
You have the blood of nobility
Honor and praise go with your name
To be well-known and achieve great fame
Never forget where you from
How you got from here to there
You always pull thru
And no matter “que pasa”
“Nunca te olvide para mejorar la raza”

Ancestors by AEC

Filled with the blood of my ancestors I push forward
with no fear…
blessed with a resilience passed down... the
impossible persevered
hearts as heavy as the impacts made against all odds
1000 generations worth of scars, I take pride in my suffering
all diamonds were first coal—I’m the greatest
grandson of King – whose gift couldn't be controlled—
more royal than anything –
Ancestors who bled out our future while their past
threatened the present –
reduce the Queens to peasants – but royalty’s in her DNA
Again she will rise, filled with the blood of her Ancestors

Books Across the Miles: long-distance prison book club

In our most recent update, we shared that members would be reading Washington Black, by Esi Edugyan, the story of an enslaved boy in Barbados who escapes his enslaver and journeys toward freedom with the help of a newfound ally and his fantastical flying machine. The novel spans the globe and offers an image of two people bridging seemingly-impossible divides to support one another’s liberation, and our members had a range of responses to the work. Here are a few of the reactions and reflections they shared with us:

"Washington Black stood out to me. It has me constantly reflecting on treating the people around me better. The book was good because it showed a story of two people from different walks in life being able to connect and become true friends. When Wash and Christopher realize Wash’s life is in danger, they flee together instead of parting ways. This stood out to me because Christopher could’ve just left Wash to his fate and continued to live his great life. People these days will quickly abandon you at the sign of trouble so to read this story of togetherness was refreshing." - DP

Reflecting on the protagonist’s determination to capture everything about his hometown in his memory so he can draw it later, FM member RB wrote about a memory that he would like to capture:

"This is both sad (because it happened while in prison) and a great memory: It was family day [at the facility], and there I sat with my mother, my son (who was also locked up), and his mother, surrounded by other families. Although I was in jail, I felt free. And it was one of the best days of my life. As my son was born shortly after my incarceration, I’ve never been free with him. I’ve never sat at a table and ate with him as a family. I had never taken a picture with him, his mother, and I together. There was music, food, dancing. Just a beautiful vibe. And I’ll cherish this day/time forever." - RB

Our upcoming Books Across the Miles book, selected by our members, is Creatures of Passage, by Morowa Yejidé. This book is a family saga haunted by the past, but one that points toward a healing, restorative future. It grapples with some of the big themes of ancestry and kinship that we have been discussing lately, and we’re excited to see the robust conversations it sparks among our book club members. Check back soon for updates! 

On the Same Page: community support for incarcerated poets

Our On the Same Page public education and peacebuilding program uses poetry and storytelling to connect community members in DC with our incarcerated and formerly incarcerated members. Volunteers attend our On the Same Page: Write Night events, where they hear from formerly incarcerated poets and read and respond to poetry written by our incarcerated members, in a mutual exchange of creative support.

In June, we were thrilled to host an in-person Write Night with over 100 community members. One of our Poet Ambassadors, Antoine, used a poem he wrote to share how important the poetry feedback we gathered to provide was while he was incarcerated: “Seeing I am not alone encouraged me to stay strong / Not in a hallway, but in a room of poets is where I belong.”

In addition to this Write Night, as the academic year has started back up, our On the Same Page programming has brought in students at DC area universities to learn about the work we do at Free Minds. In the last few weeks, participants in Georgetown University’s First-Year Orientation to Community Involvement and George Washington University’s Welcome Day of Service have attended sessions where they have heard from Poet Ambassadors, provided poetry feedback, and prepared completed poems to be mailed to incarcerated writers in facilities across the country. We were pleased to see these members of the DC community, both new and returning, fired up about supporting our work and passionate about engaging during their time in college.

We look forward to continuing our efforts to cultivate these supportive communities with our members, all of which has been made possible by the generous support of our donors!

Links:

• Read the Free Minds Connect
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