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Free Minds Write Night: January 26th, 2021

On January 26th, Free Minds hosted a writing and poetry night. Free Minds is a book club and writing workshop that supports incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. The organization aims to use literature to help them connect to opportunities, find their inner voice and expression and begin a new chapter. In this session, Free Minds’ Deputy Director Julia Mascioli and Program Assistant Imanee Magee were joined by members Gene Downing, Luis Velasquez, and Doug Chambers.

Gene is a Congressman John Lewis Fellow at Free Minds who was released two months ago. His writing is included in the newest Free Minds Book titled “When You Hear Me You Hear Us.” On the other hand, Doug has been a member of Free Minds since 2008. He was charged and sentenced as an adult at the age of 16, and saw reading and writing as integral in his rehabilitation. He is now a father of 3, a poet and ambassador for Free Minds, and an advocate for nonviolence and alternatives to mass incarceration. Luis is a Free Minds poet and ambassador who joined the book club at the DC jail when he was incarcerated as an adult at the age of 16. After serving 10 years, Luis was deported to Mexico where he now works as a call center agent. His poetry was published in 2 Free Minds books, and he provides translation services for Free Minds Spanish-speaking book club.

Each member had the opportunity to share their story of how writing impacted their journey. Doug began writing with Free Minds at 16 years old after being sent to a facility in North Dakota. He explained that Free Minds acted as a creative outlet for him, seeing it as a “door to a million possibilities…because [he] found that release [he] was yearning for…” The program changed his life by allowing him to express his emotions and receive encouraging feedback from Free Minds. Similarly, Gene saw Free Minds as a path to rehabilitation and productivity and a mechanism in which he didn’t have to limit his thinking. He developed his writing skills and eventually wrote his re-entry plan and release, which was successfully presented in court, aiding in his exoneration. Luis found Free Minds to be more than just a creative outlet, but also a family. The encouragement and feedback he received on his writing helped him stay strong through the COVID-19 lockdown and allowed him to become confident in his skills as he landed a job and began his new life in Mexico.

At the end of the event, Doug, Gene and Luis had the opportunity to read some of their own work as well as that of some incarcerated individuals. Doug recited his poem, which promoted messages about writing being an escape for him during difficult times. Gene shared his poem “On The Same Page” about how writing helped him connect with others, express his feelings and expand his mind. Poems by exonerated individuals, Christopher, Colin and Seth, were shared as well, spreading messages about the importance of growth, seeing the good in everything, and using challenging times to learn. Luis finished off the poetry portion of the night by reciting his poem “Gracias” and expressing his graciousness for everyone who helped him through difficult times in his life. The writers concluded the night by sharing their advice for young writers to take chances, be vulnerable, and understand the true impact that writing can make.

Attending this event was both eye-opening and powerful. The stories of these individuals show just how meaningful literary arts can be. With the state of our society and the need for change, we must recognize the power that we hold to transform the world through these outlets.





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