In the Media

Highlights of Freedom Reads and its work in the media.

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah has won the 2025 Inside Literary Prize.
Literary Hub by Literary Hub July 11, 2025

At a ceremony on Thursday night, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s Chain-Gang All-Stars was awarded the second annual Inside Literary Prize, the first-ever US-based literary award to be judged by currently incarcerated people.

Winner of the 2025 Inside Literary Prize Revealed
KIRKUS by Michael Schaub July 11, 2025

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah has won the 2025 Inside Literary Prize, an award judged by incarcerated readers, for his novel Chain-Gang All-Stars.

Inside prison walls, here's how a book program is changing lives
NBC News by Albinson Linares July 5, 2025

Accessing reading material in prisons is hard, but Freedom Reads co-founder Reginald Betts, a former inmate, went beyond books, creating libraries made by former prisoners.

Leer en la cárcel para entender y conectar: "Los libros cambian el clima de la prisión"
Telemundo Noticias by Albinson Linares July 2, 2025

La organización Freedom Reads ha instalado 498 bibliotecas en 50 prisiones para jóvenes y adultos en todo EE.UU., que incluyen libros en español. "Esto abre tu mente y hace que quieras cambiar", dice una reclusa que forma parte de las actividades de lectura.

New ‘Freedom Libraries’ bring literature and hope to Ohio prisons
WOSU by Kendall Crawford June 20, 2025

Freedom Reads opened 20 Freedom Libraries and brought the 2025 Inside Literary prize to two Ohio prisons.

Poet Reginald Dwayne Betts celebrates Juneteenth, second annual Inside Literary Prize
Spectrum News NY1 by Annika Pergament June 19, 2025

Freedom Reads Founder & CEO Reginald Dwayne Betts speaks with NY1's Annika Pergament about Juneteenth, Freedom Libraries, and the Inside Literary Prize.

Hand-crafted bookcases are filling prisons. They’re made in CT by formerly incarcerated workers
Connecticut Public Radio by Kevin Chang Barnum June 4, 2025

The Freedom Reads team shares what it means to return to prisons where they served time with beautiful, handcrafted bookcases and literature.

Dozens Of 'Freedom Libraries' Built At 2 State Prisons In New Jersey
The Patch by Eric Kiefer May 22, 2025

Freedom Reads opened 37 new Freedom Libraries and brought the Inside Literary Prize 2025 at two New Jersey prisons this May.

New Jersey Department of Corrections Partners with Freedom Reads to Bring Libraries and the Inside Literary Prize to New Jersey Prisons
TAPinto May 21, 2025

Freedom Reads opened 37 Freedom Libraries across Northern State Prison and Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in New Jersey this May. The team also brought the 2025 Inside Literary Prize to both prisons.

NJ Prisons Launch 37 Freedom Libraries & Celebrate 2nd Year of the Inside Literary Prize
Morristown Minute by Eric Blair May 21, 2025

Freedom Reads opened Freedom Libraries and brought the Inside Literary Prize to two New Jersey prisons this May.

New Jersey launches new library system for state prisons
Shore News Network May 20, 2025

Freedom Reads opened 37 Freedom Libraries and brought the Inside Literary Prize to two New Jersey prisons last week.

A literary prize is awarded by prison inmates. This Arizona woman was on the judging committee
KJZZ Phoenix by Sam Dingman May 12, 2025

Crystal “Alex” Capilla, 2024 Inside Literary Prize judge and member of the 2025 Inside Literary Prize Selection Committee, spoke to KJZZ Phoenix from ASPC - Perryville in Arizona about what it meant to serve as a judge for last year's Prize and about this year's shortlisted titles.