By Sydney Richner | Communications Intern
Free Minds believes in the power of positive support, encouragement, and lifting one another up in a carceral environment designed to isolate. Our Prison Book Club brings this commitment to life by uniting with community volunteers to provide poetry feedback to incarcerated members, hosting letter writing workshops to communicate with members, facilitating book club discussions and sending books to members, publishing a quarterly magazine featuring members’ work, and celebrating creative expression in all its forms and mediums. With the help of supportive community members like you, Free Minds’ Prison Book Club creates a vital sense of connection, ensuring that while our members may be imprisoned, they are never alone. Thank you!
Liberation: The Latest Connect
Our latest issue of the Free Minds Connect—a magazine written by and for our members and mailed to readers in over 110 jails and prisons across the country—focused on the theme of liberation. It offered a powerful collection of personal reflections and creative expressions, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the emotional range of the liberation journey. One such reflection comes from Free Minds member RB, who explores what liberation means to him in his poem “Finally Free…,” featured in this edition.
Finally Free…
By RB
Finally Free!
Free from Oppression
Free from Depression
Finally Free
Free from chains
Free from pain
Finally Free
Free physically
Free mentally
But what does it mean to be truly Free?
Am I free if all the damage is still within ME?
Who is really Free?
When all the powers that be are still controlling thee?
Being Free is a Hell of a thing!
To be able to fully sing just to sing,
To be able to breathe the freshest breeze,
To go where one want to go,
To move as fluid as traffic flows,
Who at last can say I am finally Free?
I pray one day that will be me.
Moving essays, poems, and interviews illustrate the many ways liberation manifests—from the physical act of singing out loud, to using writing and creativity as a path to freedom. Member MG reflects on the mental and emotional aspects of liberation, stating, “The constant use of your mind creates a freedom that can never be taken.” As always, Free Minds’ Liberation Connect brings together diverse voices, offering reflections on liberation as both an individual and collective journey, and emphasizing Free Minds’ passionate belief that feeling seen, loved, heard, and accepted is at the core of our movement toward freedom.
Recruiting Volunteers: Letter Writer Circle Orientation
Free Minds’ Letter Writer Circle connects incarcerated members with the outside community. Every week, volunteers gather online to respond and write letters to members in federal prisons all over the U.S., many of them far from home. At the most recent orientation session for new volunteers, Free Minds Poet Ambassador Lydell spoke about his experience receiving letters from volunteers. He shared that much of his time served was spent in solitary confinement, where he was kept away from other people. Reading and writing became a coping mechanism for him on the inside, especially writing to community volunteers on the outside in the “free world,” as he called it.
As Lydell shared, our incarcerated members rely on Free Minds for an essential support system. The Letter Writers Circle makes it possible for Free Minds to continue filling this vital role. We are so grateful to every volunteer who helps us expand this circle!
Books Across the Miles: Creatures of Passage
Our Prison Book Club sends out books three times a year to incarcerated members in over 110 prisons across the country, as part of our Books Across the Miles program. The members are then provided with discussion questions in our Connect magazine to reflect on their individual exploration of each novel.
Our latest selection, Morowa Yejidé’s Creatures of Passage, is set in a 1970’s Washington, D.C. and follows Nephthys, a cab driver haunted by the death of her twin brother and navigating life in a city filled with fractured lives and lingering ghosts. It is a novel about interconnectedness, survival, and the weight of memory.
Free Minds member Pascale described her reaction to Yejidé’s portrayals of revenge in the novel, sharing:
“Revenge doesn’t fix the past. Forgiving and love are the true values that make us spiritually grow and feel good.”
Child sexual abuse is a major theme throughout Creatures of Passage and when asked how families and communities can better support and protect children, Free Minds member AHA responded with his own reflections:
“By caring for children by giving them support and listening whenever they try to communicate something and paying attention to their behavior. Also checking in with them often to let them know they can talk to you about anything. Never hesitating to reassure them that they will be believed. Some children won't open up thinking they won't be believed. So, it is essential to make them feel comfortable and change this narrative by ensuring they know we are trusted and there for them, as we should be.”
Our upcoming Books Across the Miles selection, chosen by our members, is The Other Wes Moore by Maryland Governor Wes Moore. This compelling memoir tells the true story of two men with the samename but vastly different paths, exploring how decisions, opportunities, and systemic forces shape our lives. Through a powerful lens of ancestry, kinship, and community, the book delves into the ripple effects of choices and the impact of family and environment. It is a poignant narrative of redemption and resilience, pointing toward a healing and restorative future. We’re eager to see the meaningful conversations this thought-provoking story will inspire among our book club members. Check back soon for updates!
The Power of Poetry: Reflections from Free Minds Write Night
Free Minds hosts virtual Write Night events each month, where volunteers join Free Minds Poet Ambassadors in a discussion about poetry and provide positive feedback on new poems by incarcerated Prison Book Club members.
At the latest Write Night, Poet Ambassadors Terrell and Victor shared powerful reflections on the transformative impact of poetry during and after incarceration. Both spoke candidly about how writing served as a vital outlet for self-expression and resilience in the face of isolation. For Victor, poetry was a means to confront feelings of loneliness, articulate his experiences, and rediscover his potential. He credited Free Minds for encouraging him to channel his thoughts into writing, which not only helped him process his emotions but also honed his reading and communication skills overall. Terrell emphasized the importance of pushing beyond one’s comfort zone after release, viewing poetry as a gateway to personal growth and a way to inspire others still behind bars. Both highlighted how creative writing can foster hope and provide a sense of purpose, even in the most challenging circumstances.
Reflecting on the work of currently incarcerated poets, Victor and Terrell connected deeply with the themes of isolation, freedom, and resilience in their writing. After reading Rodrick’s “Safe Place,” Victor noted that the imagery in this poem reflects a mental escape from the confines of prison walls, creating serene and empowering visions of freedom.
Here is the aforementioned poem by Rodrick, a Prison Book Club member:
Safe Place
By Rodrick
Four walls, muted blues,
View of oceans and scenic views.
The dew from the grass gives
a muted, fragrance
The white clouds fluffy and amazing,
A private nest, I keep close to my chest
When I am alone, I see I am
truly blessed,
No loud noises,
No harsh faces,
Just me, myself, and I,
In my safe place
Where I can finally cry.
Victor went on to describe how poetry builds a bridge between members’ internal and external worlds, helping individuals navigate their emotions and maintain hope. Terrell echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of community feedback in amplifying these voices and providing encouragement. Both stressed that poetry is more than just a creative outlet—it’s a lifeline for connection, self-discovery, and transformation for those who remain behind bars. Through their own experiences and reflections, they underscored the enduring impact of the Prison Book Club in fostering solidarity and empowerment through the written word.
As we look back on the poignant reflections and creative expressions shared by Free Minds members, it’s clear that these efforts—whether through books, poetry feedback, or community events—are more than just programs; they are lifelines that connect individuals to their communities and to one another. The stories of resilience, growth, and connection in our recent publications and events highlight the impact of a supportive, engaged network. These moments of transformation and healing happen because of the dedication and commitment of our broader community. None of this would be possible without the continued support of our generous donors!
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By Dalton Greene | Communications Intern
By Makenna Lindsay | Communications Intern
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