A nonprofit book club, Rosebuds Reading Collective, is bringing book clubs and creative writing workshops to women housed at the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island. The organization was founded by CEO Nora Fried, who discovered the impact books could have during a difficult period in her own life and wanted to create a similar opportunity for women behind bars.

Program Details

The program, which began with six women and a handful of books, has grown to reach over 30 participants per session across multiple housing units. The organization also hosts author visits and writing workshops centered on the experiences and voices of incarcerated women. Actress and bestselling author Julia Fox serves as the group’s creative director and co-founder, while Afrika Owes, a former inmate at the Rose M. Singer Center, helps guide the program’s mission.

The goal of the program is to build community, encourage self-expression, and provide access to books for women navigating incarceration. The nonprofit is funded through donations and hopes to expand its reach to more facilities in the future.

In addition to Rosebuds Reading Collective, the New York Public Library’s Jail and Prison Services has also been working to provide access to books and educational programs for incarcerated individuals. The program has recorded 1,500 patron engagements per month with its circulating book service in Rikers Island and creates family programming, including storytime workshops for incarcerated parents.

Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.