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Organization Spotlight: Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop

This week, Students for a Just Society is highlighting Free Minds– a DC book club and writing workshop program that serves incarcerated and formerly incarcerated adults in jail, juvenile detention, federal prison, and reentry.


Founded in 1996, the organization’s inception emerged from the mind of journalist Kelli Taylor when she received a letter from Glen McGinnis, a young man sentenced to death row in Texas for a crime he committed at seventeen. Inspired by his story, Taylor then produced a television documentary about juveniles on death row and included McGinnis’ story. The two continued to connect regularly up until Glen’s execution in 2000. Prior to his untimely death, books provided Glen an escape from reality and a way to expand his learning beyond his limited formal education while behind bars. In 2002, Kelli Talor and Tara Libert founded the Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop to “[share] the life-changing power of reading, writing, and community building with teens at the DC Jail.”


Free Minds supports more than 1,000 individuals in Washington, DC that were charged and incarcerated as adults when they were juveniles; ~95% of their members are Black and four percent are Latine. They provide members access to resources that promote “literary arts, workforce development, trauma healing, peace-building, and member-led advocacy.” Their work includes hosting book clubs at the DC Jail and juvenile detention centers, as well as reentry book clubs for members who have been released. Free Minds members produce book discussions, poems, short stories, and artwork that are shared bi-monthly in the Free Minds Connect magazine.


If you want to get involved with the organization, Free Minds hosts On the Same Page: Write Nights monthly where community volunteers and poet ambassadors home from prison offer feedback on the work created by Book Club members. You can also visit the Free Minds Poetry Page and post comments, feedback, and support that is communicated to the author. Internship and volunteer opportunities can be found on their website and includes writing letters to Free Minds members and typing up poems for professional distribution.


Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop sees the potential in incarcerated youths and gives them a chance to pursue their creative, professional, and educational goals. In 2022, Free Minds members had a recidivism rate of only 9% and a 97% education and employment placement rate. Their website features poetry, short videos, and more information about their local and national work. You can also sign up for their mailing list for updates on their work!


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