The Culture Wars Are Coming for College Accreditation
An aspect of higher education governance has increasingly been targeted in legislative censorship efforts: college and university accreditation. More
On Prison Art and Music
PEN America Prison and Justice Writing Program Manager Robbie Pollock highlights three projects centered on making music from prison: Heartbeat Opera, Die Jim Crow Records, and a recent book… More
Celebrate America’s Founding Bibliophiles on the First Day of July!
A loud minority demanding censorship has put a target on libraries— and library workers— demanding book bans on queer and trans authors and writers of color, the dismantling of… More
A Conversation with Brooklyn Public Library’s Justice Initiatives Program
PEN America Prison and Justice Writing Fellow Valentina Flores speaks with Brooklyn Public Library's Diego Sandoval-Hernandez on the work and offerings of library's Justice Initiatives Program. More
Against Retribution: An Interview with Daniel Pirkel
In this interview, Daniel Pirkel speaks with PEN America's Prison and Justice Writing Program about unnecessary policies that censor the work of incarcerated writers, and advocates for restorative justice… More
Damascus James on Witnessing, Letter Writing, and Solitary Confinement
Damascus James, editor of "TEXAS LETTERS," speaks with PEN America's "Works of Justice" podcast about what he learned from people who are in solitary confinement in Texas prisons. More
Pride Month: A Banned Book Reading List
The last two years have seen unmitigated attacks on LGBTQ+ content in public school libraries, with 26% of banned books featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes. For Pride month, PEN… More
PEN America’s Writers in the Schools Committee
Through PEN America's Writers in the Schools program, chaired by James Traub, about 20 writers volunteer to work in under-resourced schools in New York City. More
Unsealed: An Open Letter from No More Victims Road
In this open letter, Antwann Lamont Johnson, Sr. considers if the Department of Corrections actually contributes to harm reduction. More
Uprooting the Lie
In this personal essay, Dyego M. Foddrell reflects on how losing his mother while he was incarcerated inspired him to seek redemption for his past. More