Project Poetic Justice: Poetry & Performance at the DC Jail

Hi everyone! I'm Ryan & this GoFundMe supports a project I'll be launching in February of 2025. As of now, I've secured partial funding for and the approval of Project Poetic Justice, which is a 10-week educational program being offered at the DC Jail.

As some quick background: I spent three years working full-time at the jail as a special education teacher and college administrator. Beyond that, I spent the next two years volunteering as a literacy tutor and performed my master's of music degree recital in the jail's law library, for which over 70 individuals signed up to attend. During this time, residents expressed a deep desire for meaningful & engaging arts programs.

I'm reaching out to you to help support this endeavor. Project Poetic Justice is an exciting and enriching initiative for young scholars between the ages of 18-24 currently incarcerated at the DC Jail. This program gives students at the jail the opportunity to:

This project aims to harness the power of artistic expression to uplift, empower, and transform lives. To make all of this possible, students will collaborate with Poetry Teaching Artists from Johns Hopkins University, and Resident Composers, Vocalists, and Pianists from the Peabody Institute. This project is made possible through the generosity of individuals such as yourself and the support of the Petey Greene Program, Free Minds Book Club, and the Peabody Launchpad.

Currently, this project has raised money through grant funding to help cover logistical costs and offset the cost of tutors and performers; however, additional funding is needed to ensure all composers are adequately compensated. The funding of $3,000 will cover the cost of 8-10 original compositions, as well as the costs associated with the Resident Pianist. The DC Jail does not allow for direct payments to participants experiencing incarceration -- Project Poetic Justice is considering alternative routes to honoring the participation of these individuals (i.e. a donation in their name to a charitable organization of their choice or paying the travel expenses of loved ones to attend a public performance of these new works).

Thank you so much for taking the time to read, and I hope you consider donating to this project!

Ryan

**photo sourced from the DC Department of Corrections Instagram post about my Master of Music Community Outreach Recital at the DC Jail in April 2024.