Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop

06/12/2026

This Pride Month, we are sharing a poem written by AL that celebrates what Pride truly means — the journey, the resilience, and the love that carries us forward. 🌈

“Allow your words to define who you are through your actions! And trust that I see you for you, because we are all trying to reach the same goal, a perfect place to embrace amongst the multicolor of the rainbow.”

AL dedicated this poem to “the mysteries of the rainbow.” At Free Minds, we believe every member deserves a space to speak their truth, exactly as they are. 🤍

Read the full poem and leave a comment for AL at the link in bio. Your words go directly to the poet.

06/10/2026

"They got my body locked down, but I'm free in the mind." ✍️

At our April Write Night, Poet Ambassadors Rafael and Sahir shared how receiving written responses to their poems, from people outside, from different backgrounds, was transformative. In Rafael's words: "It let me know that my feelings mattered. It make me feel like I'm somebody when I was in a place that tried to make me feel like I was nothing."

Every word matters. Every response matters. Just show up and pour your heart out. 🤍

Join us June 17 at 7:00pm ET on Zoom. Free to attend.

RSVP here: freemindsbookclub.org/event/virtual-write-night-june17

05/23/2026

This Sunday, Free Minds invites you to gather for something powerful.

CALLS FROM HOME is a 31-minute documentary following a longstanding radio program in Central Appalachia that sends messages of love from families to their incarcerated loved ones, bridging the hundreds of miles that separate them.

The film is screening at Rhizome on Sunday, May 24 at 4pm as part of the 500 Miles Out exhibit, presented by the Building Community Not Prisons coalition, of which Free Minds is a proud member.

Free to attend. RSVP here:

Sunday May 24 * 4pm * Free / donations * RSVP Join us for a screening and discussion, presented in conjunction with our May exhibit 500 Miles Out - Carceral Ties between the District and Central Appalachia All donations through the RSVP link will be passed along to the Building Communit

05/14/2026

On Tuesday, this community showed up. 🎉📖

Thanks to your incredible generosity, we met our match and won the second place prize for most donors, raising a total of $32,890 during Give Greater DC. That is the equivalent of 2,200 books in the hands of our members. 📚

This would not have been possible without you. Every gift, every share, every word of encouragement moved us closer to this moment. Thank you for showing up for our members in such a meaningful way.

And a special thank you to Spur Local for hosting Give Greater DC and uplifting nonprofits across the Washington area. Books are where change begins, and this community proved it. 🤍

05/12/2026

Books are where change begins. 📖

Today is Give Greater DC — and Free Minds is raising $20,000 to fund books for over 800 incarcerated members in federal prisons nationwide.

Give during our Power Hours — 9am, 12pm, 3pm, and 7pm — for the greatest impact.

Your gift will be matched up to $8,000. Give $150 or more and receive a free Free Minds tote bag.

Give here:

Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop’s mission is to build community to foster personal

05/12/2026

Tomorrow is Give Greater DC, hosted by Spur Local, and Free Minds needs your help to reach $20,000 to fund books for our members. 📚

Here is what makes tomorrow special: thanks to a small group of committed partners, the first $8,000 in donations will be matched dollar for dollar. That means your gift goes twice as far.

We purchase and mail books to over 800 incarcerated members in the DC Jail, Youth Services Center, and federal prisons across the country. Rising costs are making that work more challenging and your support on May 12 will help ensure we can keep connecting our members with the books they rely on.

Give during our Power Hours — 9am, 12pm, 3pm, and 7pm ET — for the greatest impact. Donate $150 or more and receive a free Free Minds tote bag.

Books are where change begins. Support this work here: givegreaterdc.org/o/freeminds

Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop’s mission is to build community to foster personal

05/10/2026

This Mother's Day, we are sharing a poem written by a Free Minds member that captures what the day means for so many. 🌸

"Mothers of the Movement" by JH is a tribute to the mothers who keep showing up — through grief, through loss, through the fight for their children and communities.

"This is dedicated to all mothers worldwide."

Leave a comment for JH at the link. Your words go directly to the poet. ✍️

Your feedback on poetry written by incarcerated poets is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Read poems ...

05/10/2026

This Mother’s Day, we are sharing a poem written by a Free Minds member that captures what the day means for so many. 🌸

“Mothers of the Movement” by JH is a tribute to the mothers who keep showing up — through grief, through loss, through the fight for their children and communities.

“This is dedicated to all mothers worldwide.”

Leave a comment for JH at the link in bio. Your words go directly to the poet. ✍️

05/06/2026

Mark your calendar: Give Greater DC is May 12. 📚

Free Minds is participating in Give Greater DC, a day of giving hosted by Spur Local, with a goal of raising $20,000 to fund books for our members in the DC Jail, Youth Services Center, and federal prisons across the country.

We purchase and mail books to over 800 incarcerated members nationwide, but rising costs are making this work more challenging. Book prices have gone up, and potential postage changes could significantly limit our ability to reach members nationwide. Your support on May 12 will help ensure we can keep connecting our members with the books they rely on.

Donations are open now, but stay tuned for details about our Give Greater DC Power Hours — special windows on May 12 when your gift makes an even greater impact.

Give now and learn more: https://www.givegreaterdc.org/o/freeminds

Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop’s mission is to build community to foster personal

03/25/2026

Write Week starts tonight—there’s still time to join us.

If you’ve been meaning to join—this is your reminder.

For one week, you can read powerful poetry written by members who are still incarcerated and leave reflections that we return directly to the writers.

Your words may be the encouragement someone needs.

Click here to join:

Free Minds is hosting a virtual Write Week from March 25th - April 1st! You're invited to connect with incarcerated poets through a mutual exchange of creativity, inspiration, and hope.