Support for DC's Previously Incarcerated Youth

This season we are celebrating the tenacity and mutual support of Free Minds and its members, who have made tremendous achievements despite many challenges  this past year. Free Minds members in our reentry program have developed into leaders, changemakers, and overall beacons of positive, supportive energy within our community. As we reflect on this fall, we are proud to share several key accomplishments. We welcomed and congratulated graduates of our Peer Support Training program, 15 members completed our Job Readiness and Personal Skill-Building Apprenticeship, and many members secured employment—now able to provide for themselves and their families. These successes could not have been possible without your support and, as the year comes to a close, we honor these milestones and look ahead to even more in 2025.

Celebrating our 12 Peer Support Graduates: Creating a Stronger Community through Communication

Recently, we celebrated the graduation of our newest cohort from Free Minds’ Peer Support Training program. After completing the 12-week program, these graduates have honed essential skills such as social-emotional learning, understanding trauma triggers, setting healthy boundaries, resolving conflicts, responding to mental health crises, and building trust. With these tools in hand, they are ready to make a positive impact by supporting and guiding their peers.

Che and Edward, the program facilitators, spoke about how the Peer Support Training program creates a space for both vulnerability and growth. Graduate Terrell reflected on the importance of such environments, where individuals can open up about the challenges of reentry, knowing they have the support of those who truly understand. In a heartfelt moment, Keonte shared a poem that honored his fellow graduates, celebrating the strength and promise they bring to the community. His poem included these powerful words:

“For my brothers that's graduating,
Better know that you're the best
You're the voice, you're the reason,
You're the sunshine in every season
You're the love, you're the movement
You're the talent, so why not use it?”

This graduation was a moving reflection of Free Minds’ core mission—building a platform for individuals to rise above challenges and give back to their communities. The Peer Support group and their shared commitment to uplift one another demonstrates the resilience and unity that are central to building a stronger, more connected community.

15 Free Minds Members Complete Job Readiness and Personal Skill Building Apprenticeship 

At Free Minds Book Club, our Apprenticeship Program focuses on building essential skills and setting meaningful goals. This October, participants gained hands-on experience in computer literacy, professional writing, teamwork, and financial literacy. They also attended workshops on relationship-building and how to get their vital documents and driver’s licenses. A special highlight was a tour of the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, where many members got their first library cards. The apprentices also took part in an interview skills workshop and an inspiring vision board session, where they set personal goals for their future success. On the final day, they participated in a budgeting workshop to strengthen their financial management skills and received certificates recognizing their hard work and efforts during the Apprenticeship.

One highlight of the apprenticeship was a budget workshop presented by Allen, Free Minds’ Director of Finance and Operations. After the workshop, member Johnel not only cashed his first check but also took a significant step toward financial independence by opening his very first bank account. This moment marked a major milestone in Johnel’s journey to financial stability and empowerment. It was a powerful reminder of the impact these workshops have on helping our members gain the skills they need to manage their finances and build a secure future.

Free Minds Members At Work

Of course, one of the greatest joys for the Free Minds Reentry team is seeing our members secure employment. Here are some standout Free Minds members at work this season:

With his new role in local transit, Troy is driving change—literally! As a bus driver, Troy ensures people in the greater DC area safely reach their destinations everyday, reminding us all of the vital role skilled and dedicated bus drivers play in keeping our communities connected and moving forward.

Ashley is not only building a brighter future but also helping to protect the planet for the next generation. Currently working for a landscaping and groundskeeping services company, he plays a hands-on role in keeping our streets clean by picking up trash. While enrolled in a computer class and a recent graduate of a 33-week advocacy training, Ashley is also pursuing his long-term goal of earning his Commercial Driver’s License to organize field trips for young people—demonstrating how his dedication to inspiring youth and protecting the environment goes hand in hand to build a more sustainable tomorrow.

Reginald, who works for a nonprofit culinary arts job training program dedicated to combating hunger and poverty, assisted the Free Minds staff at the Jobs Not Guns Fair, representing his organization to share information about their program and recruit new participants. It's truly inspiring to see members like Reginald giving back and supporting fellow returning citizens in their journey.

In addition to building their careers, Free Minds members are also enhancing their tech skills to become fully equipped, working members of society. For example, Ronald recently picked up his first-ever laptop, and with the guidance of Free Minds staff Geoff and Emily, he learned how to use email and Zoom—skills essential for today’s job market. 

Every success our members achieve, big or small, is made possible by the unwavering support of our generous donors. Your commitment to their journey helps fuel the progress we see every day. We’re excited to continue celebrating their victories and are eager to share the milestones still to come in the months ahead!

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Hello and happy summer from Free Minds! As we cross the midway point of 2024, Free Minds members have continued to grow and thrive upon reentry, building valuable community connections, developing and utilizing job readiness skills, and acting as strong, successful leaders in Washington, DC and beyond. In the past few months, we were thrilled to invite Poet Ambassadors and volunteers to our first in-person Write Night since 2020, deepening community connections over the healing power of poetry. 14 members graduated from our Job Readiness and Personal Skill-Building Apprenticeship, which covered a wide range of topics to prepare members for fulfilling employment opportunities. And we were thrilled to be joined by Dr. Frank Smith to commemorate Juneteenth with our Black History Learning Group. Across the board, our members have been focused on embracing their roles as leaders and positive changemakers in the community! 

Free Minds Members and Local Community Come Together for Poetry Exchange 

On July 9, a group of 20 formerly incarcerated Free Minds members (known as Poet Ambassadors) connected with the community at our On the Same Page: Write Night event. Our Write Nights provide space for members and community volunteers alike to gather, get to know one another, and read and respond to poetry written by our incarcerated members. The poems filled with comments are then mailed to federal prison facilities. Poet Ambassadors like Antoine were present to connect with volunteers and share how valuable receiving feedback on their poetry was for them while they were incarcerated. Antoine shared the importance of this supportive community in his poem, “Where I Belong,” which he read for the group:

Heard something about ‘Write Night,’ I found a spot and sat down

Powerful words filled my ears, profound enough to draw tears

Deep expressions of what I’ve felt in my heart all of these years 

Seeing I am not alone encouraged me to stay strong 

Not in a hallway, but in a room of poets is where I belong 

It was an emotionally moving evening, with Free Minds Poet Ambassadors strengthening their connections to a supportive community. Sitting at tables together with community members, they leveraged essential elements to reentry, including relationship building and networking, while also supporting fellow Free Minds members still incarcerated.

14 Free Minds Members Complete Job Readiness and Personal Skill Building Apprenticeship 

In June, we hosted a robust Job Readiness and Personal Skill-Building Apprenticeship, which emphasized vital skills for members navigating searches for jobs and housing, and connected members with local social services. Apprenticeship participants spent a day at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in DC, where member Charles gave them a tour of the facilities, a presentation on its programming and resources, and assistance signing up for library cards. 

Following this, members learned from guest speakers about topics from practical skills like financial literacy and social media safety to “soft” skills like effective communication and collaboration. Free Minds member Colie, who came home from prison in 2022, also spoke with the apprentices about facing setbacks and maintaining resilience as they navigate reentry, drawing on his own personal experiences. This session was especially powerful, and gave our members successful tips for working through roadblocks in all areas of their lives. And as always, members received tailored support on resume writing and interview prep to bolster their individual job searches. 

At the conclusion of the apprenticeship, members received completion certificates recognizing their efforts and concrete knowledge to help them find stable, fulfilling employment and leverage their unique skills in their communities!

Black History Learning Group 

To commemorate Juneteenth, Dr. Frank Smith, civil rights activist and founding member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), visited with members in our Black History Learning Group, which was launched in 2020. The group meets monthly to discuss and expand their knowledge of Black history in the United States in community and collaboration. For our June meeting, members talked with Dr. Smith about his early involvement in desegregation and voter drives, and his role as a founder of DC’s famous African-American Civil War Memorial Museum. As he shared his lifelong commitment to civil rights and his work to preserve Black history, members engaged in a meaningful dialogue about continuing carrying his work into the future. After the session, several members volunteered to read names of African American soldiers who were killed in the Civil War at the African American Civil War Memorial Museum’s Juneteenth celebration, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

Free Minds Members On the Job 

As always, we want to leave some room to celebrate some of our members’ recent job successes. Here are some highlights from the last few months:

Daniel has been working for a golf course in DC, and he has worked his way up to a supervisory position. Daniel works hard to meet guests’ needs, maintain the grounds, and oversee a team of employees, who think he’s a great boss!

Ricardo has taken a job in local transit, providing public transportation to folks getting around the greater DC area. Thanks to dedicated workers like him, hundreds of people get where they need to go each day!

Jamal and Ronald have taken positions as baristas at a local coffee chain, which offers flexible positions and skills training to employees without running punitive background checks. Both members have enjoyed their positions, helping customers start their days right!

Cordell is working at a retail chain and enjoying providing outstanding customer service to his guests, while Junie received a promotion to Warehouse Manager!

All these successes and more are made possible every day by our generous donors, and we’re grateful for the support and encouragement you provide for our members. We’re looking forward to celebrating all the victories, big and small, to come for our members in these next few months!

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