Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop

Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop builds community to foster personal development and systems change for justice-involved youth and adults through the literary arts, workforce development, trauma healing, peace-building, and member-led advocacy.

Free Minds began as a bi-weekly book club program for the 16- and 17-year-old boys charged as adults in the DC Jail. As members were released or transferred to federal prison after turning 18, we recognized that maintaining contact throughout incarceration and beyond was vital to helping these youths positively redirect their lives. Free Minds has expanded its services to include a weekly Jail Book Club; a correspondence-based Prison Book Club, which provides new books and written materials to members after transfer to federal prison; and a Reentry Book Club and job readiness program, which connects released members to the people, programs and services in the community that will help them to achieve their new goals.