By Julia Mascioli | Communications Specialist
Dear Free Minds Friends,
I’d like to share with you a message from a young man in our program:
“I’ve been in the same predicament as so many troubled youth. It’s important for me to give back and mentor them, because it’s what I needed when I was their age. I’ve seen the weight that the label of ‘felon’ gives a person. I remember how Free Minds stuck with me throughout my bid. I remember how it felt when you were expecting mail from your family, or your man, or your girlfriend and you didn’t get anything. But then they called your name at mail call and it was a letter from Free Minds. That shows you have somebody that cares about you. They helped me so much. Now that I’m home, I’m here for Free Minds. I ain’t going nowhere! Helping others? For me, it’s a necessity!”
That’s Robert, a young man who joined Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop when he was 16 years old and incarcerated as an adult. Robert came home earlier this year at the age of 24, and in just a few weeks he got a job with the DC Department of General Services on a maintenance crew. He also began doing community outreach with Free Minds as a Poet Ambassador—if you’ve attended any of our Write Night events recently, you might have heard him share his poetry!
Robert is not the only one of our Reentry Support members to achieve success in the last few months—far from it!
Free Minds Members Finding Success
Since our last report, four recently released members have graduated from our Job Readiness Apprenticeship program: congratulations to Steven, Zach, Calvin, and Phil! During the apprenticeship, they provided program support in the Free Minds office, while practicing crucial job skills such as computer literacy, communication, and teamwork. They also learned how to write a resume, and how to succeed in a job interview!
At the end of the Apprenticeship, Phil began working full-time at a local restaurant. Andre, another Reentry Support member who came home in the fall, got a job at a supermarket. Aaron went back to school and is working towards his high school diploma. Finally, long-time Free Minds member Will launched his own cleaning business, achieving his goal of being his own boss!
This fall, our Reentry Support members had the opportunity to work with employees of the Advisory Board Company on skills such as public speaking, communication, and problem solving in the workplace. Free Minds members and Advisory Board Company staff acted out various scenarios and different methods of conflict management. It was an eye-opening day for everyone!
Poets With A Purpose
Free Minds “Poet Ambassadors” have also been sharing the voices of incarcerated youth and spreading the word about how books and writing can change lives. In October, five Poet Ambassadors traveled to Scranton University in Pennsylvania, taking On the Same Page on the road for the first time! They shared their poetry and life experiences with Scranton University students, who had this to say about the event:
“This really opened my eyes to the issues these young men face. Thank you.”
“Very inspiring! The speakers are very brave and it is so amazing that they are where they are!”
“Being a big writer, it’s awesome to see how writing helps incarcerated youth. Writing is such a freeing experience and you really emphasized that.”
Free Minds Reentry Support members have also brought their message to DC City Council: this fall, seven Poet Ambassadors testified at a City Council hearing on a bill to keep juveniles out of the adult criminal justice system, the Youth Offender Accountability and Rehabilitation Act (YOARA). Although the bill did not ultimately get a vote in this legislative session, the Free Minds members made their voices heard and helped mobilize community support for this legislation.
Meanwhile, in addition to our On the Same Page events with local student and community groups, our Poet Ambassadors conduct weekly writing workshops with incarcerated youth at New Beginnings Youth Development Center, and biweekly workshops with students at a DC middle school.
Poet Ambassador Anthony shared with us why he enjoys going to the school:
“I like going there because when I share my story with the middle school kids it helps them open up about what’s going on in their lives and it also helps me process what I was going through when I was their age so I can understand my life better. Low income and fixed income children have dreams as the kids share with us every Friday. Our goal as poets with a purpose, Free Minds Poet Ambassadors, is to help them with their dreams.”
Thank you for helping Free Minds members achieve their dreams this holiday season.
Links:
By Cienna Breen | Program Assistant
By Sarah Mintz | Incarcerated Youth Programs Manager
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