Books at the Pier Event--Sunday July 24

The Media, Incarceration and Public Policy - Is There A Connection? at Books at the Pier, a benefit for Books Through Bars.
Frying Pan/Pier 63, New York City For directions, please visit http://www.fryingpan.com/mapframe.html.
For more information, please call 888-999-6761.

Authors and Journalists Rally to Support Prison Literacy
July 24 Books @ the Pier to Benefit “Books Through Bars”
NEW YORK (Jun 23) - Dozens of authors and journalists will join advocates in support for maintaining and increasing educational programs and resources for people incarcerated, event organizers announced today.
The July 24 mid-summer celebration of books and authors at “Books @ the Pier” will be held on Pier 63 at West 23rd Street. The event, a benefit for the non-profit literacy program, “Books Through Bars”, will feature authors Walter Mosley, Herb Boyd, Amy Goodman, Terrie Williams, Juan Gonzalez, Toby Thompkins, Darren Coleman, Jimmie Briggs and Deborah Mathis, among others. Two major panel discussions will take place along with selected readings from noon – 5:30 pm.
Books Through Bars is an all-volunteer project that distributes free books and reading material to those incarcerated nationwide. “More and more incarcerated individuals from around the country including New York State write to tell us that we are their only outside source of educational reading material”, said Melissa Morrone, a New York City Books Through Bars coordinator.
“Education is not only critical for self-rehabilitation and empowerment,” said event coordinator Linda Duggins, “but also for enhanced public safety. People educated while in prison, simply commit less crime upon release, making all the rest of us much safer.”
“This important gathering of members of the media and the publishing community will address critical educational issues and encourage a public dialogue around the necessary remedial steps to be taken”, said Eddie Ellis, host of “On the Count,” the weekly public affairs radio program on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York City and event organizer.
“There are few issues as important to the safety and well being of urban communities as the return to these communities of people incarcerated,” said Dr. Divine Pryor, executive director of the NuLeadership Policy Group, a public policy think tank at Medgar Evers College in the City University of New York, comprised completely of professionals who spent time in prison.
“Education is the key to most successful transitions from prison to community and as such should be one of our top public policy priorities,” he said.
Books Through Bars, On The Count!, and numerous other community and faith-based organizations will attend to demonstrate their support for educational reforms that allow for: • Pell Grant re-eligibility of incarcerated people; • Return of college programming to the prisons; • Providing books and other material to people inside, and • Increasing pre-release training, job preparation and transitional assistance for the thousands annually returning to inner city communities.
The organizations involved encourage writers, publishers and the media to become more involved. This special event, Books @ the Pier, is presented to celebrate authors and books and to educate the public around these issues.