Words Without Walls

A creative partnership between the Chatham MFA Creative Writing Program, Allegheny County Jail, and Sojourner House.

[The Marshall Project @MarshallProj]

On #WorldPressFreedomDay, we're revisiting some of the stories The Marshall Project has published by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated writers to spotlight the voices of those who have a unique understanding of what life is like behind bars.

Follow along here.👇

[The Fourth River @thefourthriver]

Every Day is Earth Day: 365 Books to Start Your Climate Change Library https://t.co/Lz1zy6Crik

[Words Without Walls @WWWChatham]

From "38" by Layli Long Soldier in celebration of National Poetry Month:

"I do not regard this as a poem of great imagination or a work of fiction.

Also, historical events will not be dramatized for an 'interesting' read."

https://t.co/TFDR3EtbOu
#NPM2019

[Words Without Walls @WWWChatham]

From “House of Unending” by Reginald Dwayne Betts in celebration of National Poetry Month:

“Scarred wings flying through smoke, each wild hour

Of lockdown, hunger time & the blackened flower...”

https://t.co/n3FSKSPst5
#NPM2019

[Words Without Walls @WWWChatham]

From "Apology for Apostasy?" by Etheridge Knight, in celebration of National Poetry Month:

"Soft songs, like birds, die in poison air
So my song cannot now be candy.
Anger rots the oak and elm; roses are rare,
Seldom seen through blind despair..."

https://t.co/f6tusQ46YH
#NPM19

[Words Without Walls @WWWChatham]

Last week @thefourthriver launched issue 16 with a folio celebrating 10 years of Words Without Walls. Photo credits to @SheilaSquill.

[Words Without Walls @WWWChatham]

Chatham MFA grad and former WWW teacher, Brittany Hailer, discusses the 2015 solitary confinement reforms in PA. First of three articles: https://t.co/F8Jzc6f19n

[Vera Institute of Justice @verainstitute]

Mass incarceration affects everyone.

Wondering what the incarceration trends are in your county? Take a closer look and browse through our interactive map: https://t.co/7USr1W90uh

[The Pittsburgh Foundation @PittsburghFdn]

We're offering a one-year opportunity for an individual to serve as the Social Change Fellow in its Program and Policy Department with a demonstrated interest in #philanthropy, who seeks to work with nonprofit organizations and the public sector. Apply: https://t.co/fcH2i9sFdw

[Books Through Bars @btb_philly]

It was SO inspiring to see the turnout last night as we protested repressive prison policies in PA. Many thanks to all who showed up! #StopDOCcensorship #WolfDoBetter

@DecarceratePA @AmistadLaw @LifelinesPA @phillyHRC @right2redempt @YASP2

[Vera Institute of Justice @verainstitute]

A reimagined prison respects people’s capacity to grow and change.

Our emphasis on retribution and punishment has not worked. We know there’s a better way. We can transform our prisons so they are grounded in human dignity. It’s time to #ReimaginePrison: https://t.co/wOJ1cR7vRM

[Words Without Walls @WWWChatham]

Congrats to @NatalieGDiaz, a featured Words Without Walls anthology contributor, for winning a MacArthur Genius grant!
https://t.co/MIr6l9T5ka

[Words Without Walls @WWWChatham]

Our latest reflection on sharing our student work beyond the walls of the jail: https://t.co/zPFKIKoqnr #sharingthework #wordswithoutwalls

[The Marshall Project @MarshallProj]

"Some may say that we're 'getting what we deserve' in here, but that makes no real sense from a societal standpoint. Better people exiting prisons means a better society. Worse people exiting prisons means a worse society." https://t.co/SyIl9pyRfm

[Words Without Walls @WWWChatham]

Here's the latest blog post from our Words Without Walls teachers, reflecting on his growth, and the progress of his students over the past two years at the Allegheny County Jail: https://t.co/l5xLbmNu4C #WWWWednesday #wordswithoutwalls #writingteacher

[Words Without Walls @WWWChatham]

Watch: This is what freedom looks like after jail: https://t.co/J2cUnd4AQi. #motivationmonday #freedom #reentry #incarcerationnation

[Words Without Walls @WWWChatham]

Read this interview with Pennsylvania's Attorney General Josh Shapiro, taking on recidivism. https://t.co/6m2Ju7Yafi #recidivism #incarcerationnation #reentry

[Words Without Walls @WWWChatham]

Head on over to @PPSnews and check out their #blackhistorymonth profiles, celebrating black Pittsburgh Public School alumni doing great things in our world: https://t.co/bF7iro446w

[Words Without Walls @WWWChatham]

The work @jasiri_x is doing in PGH is #settingthebar #bethechange #1hood https://t.co/4XaQEIrxMA

[1Hood @1hood]

We have some exciting news! Artivist Academy just launched! Have a project idea that intersects artistry and activism? Learn how 1Hood may be able to make it happen! #1hood #artivist #BeTheChange

https://t.co/caK1Yn0HCW