Join us in our efforts to mitigate the impact of mass incarceration on black and brown communities by supporting RBL’s unique arts-based approach to successful reentry.
Through a discussion-based curriculum, Reading Between the Lines uses the transformative power of literature and the arts to create opportunities for participants to exercise critical thinking and communication skills. Through this critical discourse, participants actively engage in self-reflection, effective communication, and decision-making.
Our goal is to prepare people for reentry and provide ongoing programming and support once they return home. Our methodology centers around fostering thought-provoking conversations using the arts to cultivate vital life skills among participants facing the daunting challenges of reentry. Through these challenges come an immense number of opportunities. Thanks to support from donors like you, here’s what we were able to accomplish in 2023:
Provided programming to 366 participants
Held 136 sessions (220+ hours)
Trained 7 volunteer facilitators and 9 participant facilitators at the Cook County Jail
Reading Between the Lines (RBL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that uses a literature and arts-based approach to provide incarcerated and formerly incarcerated adults with critical thinking skills needed for successful reentry into society. Participants hone these skills through exploring readings from various genres, including poetry, short stories, essays, memoirs, speeches, and historical documents, with authors ranging from the classic to the contemporary.