It is always important to be reminded that real young people are living their lives behind bars. Some are metaphorical but too often they are actual bars behind prison walls. We rarely hear young people’s thoughts about the subjective experience of being locked up. A terrific program called the Free Write Jail Arts & Literacy Program www.freewritejailarts.org/about.html works with incarcerated youth in Chicago. They provide them with a chance for expression and for a sense of agency even within the oppressive walls of the jail.

You can listen here to a powerful poem written and read by a young man who is incarcerated but has been given a chance through Free Write to share his feelings and thoughts. If you have an extra $25, please consider sending it to Free Write so that they can continue their powerful and important work.
my_minds_playing_bricks_on_me

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  By rachel williams, July 1, 2010 @ 10:25 pm

  That is a rockin’ portfolio of prints. Wonderful stuff all the way around.
  Thanks for putting this all in one spot!

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