Reginald Dwayne Betts is on a mission is to put a curated library in the cell block of every prison in America. A survivor of the system himself, he has obtained a college degree, a law degree from Yale, and a MacArthur Genius grant. Looking to bring hope to America’s most hopeless places, Bates has founded Freedom Reads, an organization that brings free curated library collections to every prison system that agrees to it. His partner in the endeavor, Debbie Leff, also talks to us about what inspired her about this tremendous organization. No one better personifies the power of reading to change a life, so join us for what we believe is an important discussion about the vitality of libraries and the power of books to heal.

Books mentioned in this week’s podcast:

The Circumference of a Prison by Reginald Dwayne Betts

Doggerel by Reginald Dwayne Betts

Felon: Poems by Reginald Dwayne Betts

Redaction by Reginald Dwayne Betts

Bastards of the Reagan Era by Reginald Dwayne Betts

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