“On the Same Page: Free Minds Poetry in the Community,” a violence prevention initiative, brings together youth poets who were incarcerated as teens in the adult system and diverse audiences from the community to promote healing and understanding through the tools of poetry and shared life experiences.
Free Minds poets use poems from the Free Minds literary journal They Call Me 299-359 and first person narratives of childhood experiences and time spent incarcerated in federal prison to engage with community members. Participants respond to the words and experiences of the incarcerated poets and relate them to their own lives. This exchange promotes empathy, understanding, and healing. With everyone on the same page, we can create a stronger, healthier community.
This event is scheduled as part of the Grand Opening of the new Bellevue Neighborhood Library: http://www.dclibrary.org/node/31051