Jonas was released under DC’s Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act after 17 years behind bars beginning at age 16. He is a production assistant for a social impact production company and media consulting firm. He recently published his own collection of poetry, Mastering the Pain.
Read MoreHosea was sentenced as an adult at the age of 17. He works as a clerk for the US Postal Service and owns three small businesses: an online travel agency, a body-sculpting service, and an e-commerce fashion company. He has also developed and published a mobile game app. Hosea is the father of two young daughters and says everything he does is for them.
Read MoreTim spent nearly 36 years in prison before being released in November 2020. He loves working in the kitchen and hopes to land a job in a restaurant. Until then, he works full time as a laborer in a brickyard. He loves the little things about freedom—like going for a drive and watching the beautiful scenery go by.
Read MoreLevy was released in January 2020 after serving 36 years in prison. He works as a supervisor with a janitorial maintenance services company that hires and trains returning citizens to enter the workforce. His dream is to get married and have a family. Levy loves providing outreach to youth in the community. He sees it as a way to spread hope.
Read MoreKelvin was released in October 2019 after serving 35 years in prison. He is a glazier apprentice working on installing windows in large commercial buildings. He is enjoying traveling around the country and his newest hobby, bowling. Most of all, he loves spending time with his two daughters. His goal is to open his own concrete floor polishing business.
Read MoreCliff served more than 34 years in prison. He came home in March 2019. He enjoys spending time with his family, and works as a parking valet. He regularly speaks to middle school, high school, and college students across the city as a Free Minds Poet Ambassador. Cliff plans to open a Boys & Girls Club one day with a big gymnasium and a recording studio to lift up DC youth.
Read MoreChris served almost 26 years in prison. He is a supervisor for a parking lot company. He is passionate about working in and for the community, serving youth, seniors, people who are homeless, and formerly incarcerated people.
Read MoreCharles came home in June of 2020 after 36 years behind bars. He works full-time as a maintenance technician and still manages to run several miles every day in his Capitol Hill neighborhood. He also volunteers on weekends passing out food to people experiencing homelessness—something his grandmother taught him to do at a young age. Charles looks forward to one day owning his own home.
Read MorePedro, originally from Mexico, wrote Jasmín Pictures Home while he studied at Cardozo High School.
Read MoreMario wrote Searching for Sancocho while a senior at DC International School. He is originally from El Salvador.
Read MoreJamileth wrote Searching for Sancocho while studying at Roosevelt High School. She is originally from the Dominican Republic.
Read MoreYunior is the author of Jasmín Pictures Home; he is from Guatemala.
Read MoreAntonia Marisol wrote Jasmín Pictures Home while at Next Step Public Charter School.
Read MoreAndy wrote Jasmín Pictures Home while studying at Roosevelt High School; he is originally from the Dominican Republic.
Read MoreMy name is Deyssy (she/her). When I wrote my books I was a student at the University of the District of Columbia. I am majoring in Social Work and expect to graduate in May 2023. When I am not writing or in classes, I am interning at So Others Might Eat (SOME), working at a local restaurant, or painting! Once I graduate from UDC, I would like to attend law school and enter a full-time job where I can keep helping vulnerable communities. I want to let my readers know that no matter how hard or difficult times can be, there is always a light of hope encouraging you to not give up. As human beings, we are fighters.
Read MoreJoy wrote Joy-Grace and the Dress Dilemma while studying at Carnegie Mellon University. She was born in Jamaica to Igbo immigrants from Nigeria.
Read MoreYenner wrote Perla’s Magical Goodbye while attending DC International High School. He is originally from Colombia.
Read MoreTseganesh wrote Joy-Grace and the Dress Dilemma as a senior at Theodore Roosevelt High School. She is Ethiopian and moved to the United States when she was 16.
Read MoreMy name is Josiah and I wrote “Zim and the Quest for the Cloak.” I live in Washington, DC and go to DC Prep. I like to have discussions with friends and also play video games. I’m interested in anime and documentaries. When I grow up I would like to be a United States Marine. People should read my story because it’s fantasy and it is very suspenseful.
Read MoreMy name is Kevin and I wrote “The Tale of Two Kobes.” In my free time, I like to watch basketball, read, and nap. I enjoyed participating in this project because I was able to experience what it was like to be an author. I want my audience to know that if they experience a loss, their idols can still be remembered in their accomplishments. When I am older I want to go to college and become a math teacher.
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