Free Verse is a language-based skill-building program developed for youth in the justice system by Bird Cox at Richmond Young Writers over the summer of 2022. Programs like this one that help develop self-understanding and affirm identity have been shown to make significant improvements in outcomes for kids who have experienced incarceration.

Through writing projects, creative expression, employment preparation, and college application groundwork, Free Verse engages students in the Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Center in an active process of defining who they are, what they want, and what steps are available to them to make progress toward their goals.

Your gift will:

Ensure that Free Verse becomes a sustained opportunity for kids at the CJDC

Provide young people with creative and academic support, as well as help with resumes, job interview practice, college applications, college funding research, entrepreneurship goals, and much more

Help reduce the likelihood of recidivism through literacy development

Empower kids to reflect on difficult experiences and provide alternative ways to express feelings and organize thoughts

Fund further research and development for the extension of the program, both at the CJDC and at additional facilities

If you are interested in making a major gift, a recurring gift, or discussing tax options with us, please email us - we are so lucky to count The Hawkins Project as our official fiscal sponsor. The Hawkins Project, founded by Dave Eggers and Amanda Uhle, creates and funds courageous literary, visual, public, and other creative works with a special emphasis on supporting youth writing centers around the world. Find out more about The Hawkins Project here .

Want to send a check instead of giving online? Wonderful! You can mail your donation to:

Richmond Young Writers

2707 West Cary Street

Richmond, VA 23220