All poets are members of the free minds book club and writing workshop. Were still raising money to provide ongoing support for these women throughout their incarceration at the jail and in the federal prison system. Through creative expression, job readiness training, and violence prevention outreach, these poets achieve their education and career goals, and become powerful voices for change in the community. Congressman john lewis and march coauthor andrew aydin visited the free minds book club at the dc jail to share his remarkable story with the incarcerated youths in the book club. Free minds book club 1816 12th st nw, washington, dc 20009. Learn more about free minds book club in commercial real estate. Through creative expression, job readiness training, and violence prevention outreach, these young poets achieve their education and career goals, and. The registered agent on file for this company is maria t. They say i should be used to living in a cage because all my life i have been trapped in pain but if they only knew solitude educated me and kept me from going insane. Free minds introduces incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youths and adults to the lifechanging power of books, creative. Provide job readiness training to 25 dc youth globalgiving. The mission of free minds book club is to introduce young inmates to the transformative power of books and creative writing.
These youth face daunting challenges as they navigate the difficult road to successful reentry. The companys filing status is listed as active and its file number is 243532. Reading and writing can provide a profession, a passion or an escape from reality. Ive never traveled anywhere, but i want to experience other cities and cultures. Our members read 27 unique book titles in our book clubs in the dc jail, juvenile detention facility, federal prison system, and reentry. Through creative expression, job readiness training, and violence prevention outreach, these young poets achieve their education and career goals, and become powerful voices for change in the community. While some free minds members receive lengthy sentences, the majority of free minds members serve between three and seven years before they are released into the community. The young inmates come from some of the citys most crimestricken and impoverished neighborhoods. Free minds book club and writing workshop empowers young inmates to write new chapters in their lives. May 12, 2015 roksana slavinsky, bisnow dc washington dc legal dc. By employing a unique program model that includes a book club.
If you havent had a chance to give, theres still time. Joe interns with free minds book club and writing workshop, which serves juveniles who have been sentenced and incarcerated as adults in the washington, dc jail. At 16 and 17 years old, they read, on average, at a fifthgrade level, and most have never completed a. Celebrated author walter dean myers visited the teenagers in the book club at the dc jail. Participants take part in a poetry and creative writing workshop, through which they use writing as a tool for selfexpression, reflection, and personal growth. This project provides vital job readiness training and life skills development to youth 1824 years old coming home from prison. Free minds book club has 288 books on goodreads, and is currently reading gone girl by gillian flynn, enriques journey by sonia nazario, and just mercy. Following wednesdays lunch, we will gather alongside free minds poet ambassadors home from prison to provide feedback on the writing of book club members still incarcerated. Charity navigator unrated profile for free minds book club. Many of you may outwardly be content with your current faith or that which you inherited from your parents and community.
Writing workshop is a nonprofit that works with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youths and adults. In 2019, we served over 1,000 incarcerated and formerly incarcerated members. Free minds book club and writing workshop, united states of. Wash, dc, washington, district of columbia 200150000. By using the tools of books, writing, and community to awaken individuals to new possibilities for their future and support them in becoming powerful voices for change, in the year 2019, we have served over. Building upon a sustained connection made in the dc jail book club and federal prison book club, free minds connects its recently released members to the resources and. Greater washington the most trusted guide to giving in greater washington dc, md, va, featuring the areas best, vetted, communitybased charities for highimpact local giving. The 21st century solutions grants are given in 4 categories. Free minds member terrell sent us this video of the gateway arch in st.
Free minds book club freemindsbookclub washington, dc. One of their book club groups was recorded by cspan book tv during a book meeting discussion. For the past 4 years, nbc4 has been awarding grants to local non profits that work on bold new ideas to move our communities forward. This website has been created for all people who have a desire to allow god into their lives and follow his path alone. We are proud and honored to carry his legacy forward with the new fellowship. Free minds recognizes that books and creative writing have the incredible power to teach, build community, inspire individuals and change lives. During biweekly workshops at new beginnings youth development center for teens and the dc jail for adults, free minds members read stories and poetry that reflect their lives and then learn to write and even publish their own. Booktv covers the free minds book club meeting which takes place twice a month with inmates at the washington, dc jail.
Free minds cofounder tara libert explains to write night, poet ambassadors are the voice of the incarcerated poets that you guys see on the table. We are looking ahead to 2020 and cant wait to get started with our new book club for women at the dc jail. Help us expand to serve incarcerated women at the dc jail. Business profile for free minds book club in washington, district of columbia. Our mission is to introduce young inmates to the transformative power of books and creative writing. Dc jail book club free minds recognizes that books and creative writing have the incredible power to teach, build community, inspire individuals and change lives. Free minds book club and writing workshop shout mouse press. He has always dreamed of seeing the country, and now with his new truck driver job, he is making his dream a reality. Postcard from free minds book club in washington, d. How a book club is helping to keep exoffenders from going. Free minds book club 2201 p st nw, washington, dc 20037. Free minds bookclub archives the justice arts coalition.
Free minds uses books and creative writing to empower incarcerated youth and adults, awakening them to their own potential. To all of our wonderful supporters, we want to say thank you. Please join members of the dc rotary club at write lunch with free minds. The dc public library offers a variety of book clubs for residents to gather and discuss their love of books. Free minds book club giving voice to the voiceless and a community to the isolated there are so many things that i love about free minds. Book tv attended the free minds book club held at the washington, dc jail. Free minds uses books, creative writing, and peer support to awaken incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youths and adults to their own potential. Visit this page to learn about the business and what locals in washington have to say. Search for other community organizations on the real yellow pages. The poet ambassadors are all returned citizens, former inmates who have been with free minds book club in prison and out. Author walter dean myers visits free minds book club at. Feb 12, 2020 please join members of the dc rotary club at write lunch with free minds.
Free minds apprentices learn the practical skills of resume writing, job interviewing techniques, computer skills and managing coworker relationships. Through creative expression, job readiness training, and violence prevention outreach, these poets achieve their education and career goals, and become. Jail who are facing adult sentences to open up through poetry. Free minds, winner of the 2010 innovations in reading prize. Book tv presents coverage of the free minds book club, which takes place twice a month with inmates at the washington, d. Please note that sometimes book club events are canceled or rescheduled due to unforeseen circumstances.
Free minds uses books, creative writing, and peer support to awaken dc youth incarcerated as adults to their own potential. All it takes is a pen and a sheet of paper and what these men do with that is. The untold story of the real me is a collection of poems written by young people who were charged and incarcerated as adults at the age of 16 or 17. Free minds introduces incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youths and adults to. Jun 26, 2019 reading and writing can provide a profession, a passion or an escape from reality. Write lunch with free minds rotary club of washington, dc. We cant wait to launch our new book club for women at the dc jail and welcome these women to our free minds family. Our mission is to awaken our members to their own potential and inspire them to transform their lives. Their work explores themes of parenthood, love, pain, identity, race, and freedom in voices both raw and powerful. Free minds write nights connect incarcerated dc residents to. Free minds uses books and creative writing to empower dcs incarcerated and formerly. Free minds began as a biweekly program for young inmates held in the dc jail.
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