Bell Gale Chevigny (1936-2021): Critical Thinking and Grace
Throughout her life, Bell Gale Chevigny taught in prisons and advocated for educational opportunities for incarcerated communities. More
Remember This: On Celes Tisdale’s “When the Smoke Cleared: Attica Prison Poems and Journal”
Malcolm Tariq reviews Celes Tisdale's "When the Smoke Cleared: Attica Prison Poems and Journal" (Duke University Press, 2022). More
The Cop in Your Head: On Andy West’s “The Life Inside”
PEN America's Tomás Miriti Pacheco reviews Andy West's "The Life Inside: A Memoir of Prison, Family and Philosophy" (Picador, 2022). More
Nineteen Writers Win Coveted Awards in 2022 Prison Writing Contest
Caits Meissner, director of PEN America's Prison and Justice Writing program, said: "This year's submissions underscore the extraordinary resilience, individuality, and indomitable artistry of writers inside prisons. These indispensable… More
A Movement to Bend the Arc: Keeda J. Haynes’ Memoir on Second-Chance Culture
Emma Stammen reviews Keeda J. Haynes' memoir, "Bending the Arc: My Journey from Prison to Politics" (Seal Books, 2021). More
“Do you really want to know why the caged bird sings?”: On Marlon Peterson’s Abolitionist Memoir
Emma Stamen reviews Marlon Peterson’s Abolitionist Memoir Bird Uncaged (Bold Type Books, 2021) More
Banning of Non-English Dictionaries in Michigan Prisons Tramples on Fundamental Rights
"To punish a broad segment of the prison population is short-sighted, in addition to trampling on prisoners’ fundamental rights.” More
Addiction, Subjectivity, and Selfhood: Introducing David Sanchez’s First Novel, “All Day is a Long Time”
Prison and Justice Writing Fellow Emma Stammen speaks with writer David Sanchez about his debut novel, "All Day is a Long Time." More
Best Practices for E-reader Tablets in Carceral Institutions
Produced by the Coalition for Carceral Access in Literature and Learning (C.A.L.L.) The introduction of e-reader tablets to carceral institutions is a new and growing trend. When implemented in a… More
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PEN America and @BKLYNLibrary are teaming up to offer a new, virtual #FreedomToRead Advocacy Institute, teaching teenagers how to defend books in their schools, libraries and communities. We spoke to former Oklahoma school teacher @MsBoismier_ELA about the goals of the project.
We're looking for an experienced and innovative managing editor who understands how newsrooms work and appreciates the importance of shedding light from behind prison walls. #jobs #career #journalismjobs
Apply here: https://prisonjournalismproject.org/job-posting-managing-editor/
Literary royalty at @MilesCollege tonight with Birmingham native and National Book Award winner @imaniperry and @ALPoetLaureate Ashley M. Jones with support from @thankyou_bham. Inspiring evening. https://twitter.com/PENamerica/status/1618636171751342081