Book Club for Incarcerated Youth and Adults

Free Minds believes that literature and creative writing are powerful tools for boosting community resilience, uplifting each other, and mitigating the effects of carceral isolation on our Prison Book Club members. This past quarter, Free Minds celebrated the release of another edition of our Connect newsletter, an issue centered around the theme of “Goals” and featuring member art, writing, interviews, and feedback. We sent books to over 110 facilities across the United States, including a new Book Across the Miles book. In addition to this, we have also been busy hosting events that engage our members with community members globally, through weekly letter writing events and monthly Write Nights, where members receive positive feedback and encouragement on their poetry. The continued support of people like you ensures that our Prison Book Club members can continue to work toward their goals and aspirations. Thank you for all of your support!

The Connect: Goals

The newest issue of the Connect, a quarterly newsletter written by Free Minds staff and members, focused on “Goals.” Setting goals is an expression of hope and resilience, and this issue highlights the goals of our members, goals as an expression of individual values, and how to set a goal to set yourself up for future success. Free Minds member AHM elucidates these ideas in his poem, “I Used To…,” here:

I used to live life in the moment.

But now I cherish every moment I have.

I always cared for others more than myself.

But I never compromise my morals and principles.

I once forgot a promise I made to my mother.

But now I don't make any promises I can't keep.

If I could go back in time.

I would make better life choices.

I will never forget my past.

But I can prepare for a better future.

I won't be a burden to my community.

But I might be an asset to my peers and the youth.

I used to hope for better days like this.

But now I am preparing for them.

“I used to hope for better days like this. / But now I am preparing for them.” AHM’s expression of intention and hope is an example of how Prison Book Club programming has empowered our members with the community and support needed to write their own futures. This issue of the Connect also features several interviews with members who have come home and a column about setting reentry goals to support members during and after their incarceration. The next issue’s theme will be Entrepreneurship!

Books Across the Miles 

The Books Across the Miles selection is a quarterly book we send to our members in over 110 facilities across the United States so they all read the same book at the same time. Members vote on which book they want to read and can answer discussion questions supplied in the Connect in order to facilitate their engagement with the text. It is a critical way that our members stay connected to the Free Minds community during their incarceration. The most recent Books Across the Miles book was The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama. In the book, Obama shares a series of stories and reflections on change, challenge, and power, and offers a fresh perspective on how we can build up others and the wider world around us by discovering deeper truths and new pathways for progress. One of the discussion questions prompted our members to share their thoughts on a quote by author Jeanette Winterson that Mrs. Obama shares in the book: “Language is a finding place, not a hiding place.” Here’s what DP and DLK had to say about this quote:

DP: “Language – it gets you through life and it gives you proper pronunciation shows your communication skills, this is what language means to me. It shows how educated you are. It also brings you skills and people skills and good manners.”

DLK: “Language allowed me through poetry to find that lost inner-child that I had to suppress, and the trauma I was forced to endure. As painful as it was, it was through my poetry (as sad as they are) I started to find healing... as a way to move forward and to make the ultimate decision to not let my formative years define how my future would play out. Choices!”

These members bring to light a central goal of Free Minds programming: supporting and empowering our members through the power of language. Thank you for your support so we can continue sending books to our members who are incarcerated across the country.

Our upcoming Books Across the Miles selection is Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised: A Memoir of Survival and Hope by Carmelo Anthony. 

Write Night

A highlight of the month is always our Write Nights. This quarter, we hosted two Write Nights in May and July. Write Night is an opportunity for our members to receive feedback on the poetry they have written from community members across the globe. Our Poet Ambassadors, Free Minds members who have received poetry while incarcerated and are now home, join in a conversation to discuss their experiences of incarceration and how feedback on their writing from the community impacted them. It is a night where Free Minds programming comes full circle; formerly incarcerated members contribute back to our members that are still incarcerated and are able to connect with the community about their experiences. At the most recent Write Night, Poet Ambassadors John and Kenneth shared with the group about the importance of receiving mail in prison. John explained that it makes one feel appreciated and supported when they receive mail. Kenneth explained that it is important for a person's sanity, because it shows that somebody in society cares about them and is thinking about them. He explained that connecting with someone via mail is like “gas in the tank”. Letters and simple words of encouragement are fuel to keep going. A little bit goes a long way.

Free Minds values your continued support of our Prison Book Club programming. The continued engagement and dedication of the Free Minds community is why we have been able to engage incarcerated youth and young adults from DC for over 20 years.