Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop

Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop

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Free Minds introduces incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youths and adults to the life-changing

Screening & Discussion - Calls From Home — Rhizome DC 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:

Screening & Discussion - Calls From Home — Rhizome DC 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

Photos from Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop's post 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. 🤍

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

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

Mothers of the Movement - Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop 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. ✍️

Mothers of the Movement - Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop Your feedback on poetry written by incarcerated poets is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Read poems ...

Photos from Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop's post 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. ✍️

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

Virtual Write Week: March 25-April 1 - Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop 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:

Virtual Write Week: March 25-April 1 - Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop 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.

03/21/2026

This moment from Write Night captures the power of poetry to create connection.

In this clip, Poet Ambassador Eric shares the poem “Liberated Mind,” by incarcerated poet Melvin, in conversation with Community Outreach Facilitator Carlos.

Poetry written by Free Minds members who are still incarcerated becomes the center of meaningful conversations between volunteers and the community.

From March 25 – April 1, you can take part in this exchange during Write Week.

Participants read original poems and leave reflections that are returned directly to the writers — offering encouragement, connection, and community across prison walls.

Join us: https://freemindsbookclub.org/event/virtual-write-week-march25-april1/

Virtual Write Week: January 28-February 4 - Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop 01/26/2026

From January 28 to February 4, Free Minds is hosting Write Week, a virtual poetry event featuring writing from our incarcerated members.

During this event, participants will have a whole week to read poems and leave their reflections, which we will share back with the writers. We invite you to join us in uplifting our members’ voices and providing the powerful reminder that their voices are being heard.

🗓️ Write Week: January 28 – February 4
🕖 Poems go live at 7:00 PM ET on January 28
🔗 RSVP here: freemindsbookclub.org/event/virtual-write-week-jan-28-feb-4/

Virtual Write Week: January 28-February 4 - Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop Free Minds is hosting a virtual Write Week from January 28th - February 4th! You're invited to connect with incarcerated poets through a mutual exchange of creativity, inspiration, and hope.

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Location

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Address


1816 12th Street NW
Washington D.C., DC
20009

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm