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ReEntry Lab

@reentrylab.org

Building bridges between writers & other artists leaving incarceration and arts & literary communities ready to receive them. Based in Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota.

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ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 2w ago

Last year the Minnesota Council on LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans conducted a community needs assessment and the results are here! You can find out more about the study at mnqt.info/reports. Thank you to everyone who responded to the survey!

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ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 3w ago

Najeeba Syeed (she/her) - Najeeba’s first book of poetry, Dreaming Lost Bodies Back, was released a few months ago. She writes about lineages of loss and resilience. She is a professor of religion here in Minneapolis. (Alt text embedded.)

Photograph of Najeeba Syeed, an Asian American woman with light brown skin and dark eyes. In this photos, she's wearing a pink covering draped over her head and shoulders, a fuchsia top, large flat round yellow earrings, and lipstick. She looks at the camera with a serious expression.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, October 6th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Bridget Gordon, Wordsworth Musinguzi, Marquise Bowie, KJ Kieras, and Najeeba Syeed.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 3w ago

KJ Kieras (they/them) is a writer and performer currently based in Minneapolis. They have performed slam poetry across the nation and are a three-time Midwest Poetry Mashup winner. Their work can be found in BeaverMag, Button Poetry, 45th Parallel, and Tinderbox Poetry Journal. (Alt text embedded.)

Photograph of KJ Kieras, a white nonbinary person performing at a mic with their arms stretched wide. In this photo, they're wearing black pants and a black leather jacket over a dark brown top; metallic jewelry; and short brown hair.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, October 6th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Bridget Gordon, Wordsworth Musinguzi, Marquise Bowie, KJ Kieras, and Najeeba Syeed.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 3w ago

Marquise Bowie (he/him). Born and raised on the South Side of MPLS, MN. Son of the Most High. Father of two daughters Marquissa (26) Marquia (18). Grandfather of Makayla (2). Husband of Treva Bowie. Bonus kids Treionne, Isaiah, Mimi, Jeremiah, Xion and dog Angel. (Alt text embedded.)

Photograph of Marquise Bowie, a Black man. In this photo, he's wearing a long black-and-white beard, glasses, tan pants, black gloves, and a red fur-trimmed coat he's holding open to reveal a maroon sweatshirt with the words "Minnesota Strong." He's standing on a snowy street corner at George Floyd Square in South Minneapolis.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, October 6th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Bridget Gordon, Wordsworth Musinguzi, Marquise Bowie, KJ Kieras, and Najeeba Syeed.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 4w ago

Wordsworth Prescott Musinguzi (b. 1991, he/him) is a Trans first-generation Ugandan-Liberian American documentary photographer and multidisciplinary artist based in Minneapolis, MN. A former music photojournalist and lifestyle blogger, his practice documents… (Alt text embedded.)

Photograph of Wordsworth Musinguzi, a Black man with medium-dark skin. In this photo, he has very close-cropped hair, a light mustache, some metal jewelry, and a serious expression.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, October 6th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Bridget Gordon, Wordsworth Musinguzi, Marquise Bowie, KJ Kieras, and Najeeba Syeed.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 4w ago

@bridgetgordon.gay (she/her, fae/faer) is a queer trans woman and emerging poet living in Chicago. A former MFA student and sports journalist, her current work with poetry and short-form writing is enraptured with queer longing, identity, and liminality. … (Alt text embedded.)

Photograph of Bridget Gordon, a young white trans woman. In this photo, she's performing at a mic, eyes closed; she's wearing a wide-collared ripped black T-shirt with words beneath a black leather jacket, some metallic jewelry, and bright blue-and-purple bob-length hair.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, October 6th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Bridget Gordon, Wordsworth Musinguzi, Marquise Bowie, KJ Kieras, and Najeeba Syeed.Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 2mo ago

Khary Jackson (he/they/any) is a writer, dancer and musician. Khary has been a recipient of generous grants, including the 2019 Jerome Artist Fellowship and 2022 McKnight Fellowship in Writing. In 2020/21 Khary co-composed a MNiatures commission with MN Opera. 1/5

Photograph of Khary Jackson, a Black man with medium-dark skin. In this photo, he's wearing narrow glasses, a mustache and short beard along chin and jawline, and a black jacket; his hair is pulled back out of focus and he's looking at the camera with a neutral expression.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, September 1st, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 2mo ago

Beau RaRa (they/them) is a poet hailing from the land of ten thousand lakes. They are a post-conviction lawyer and circle keeper by day and moonlight as an aerialist teaching at Phoenix Flight Studio in Minneapolis. Beau believes that relationship is the locus of transformative change. … 1/6

Photograph of Beau RaRa, a nonbinary person with light brown skin and medium-short auburn hair. In this photo, they are wearing a necklace, a patterned blue sleeveless shirt, and a distant smile.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, September 1st, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 2mo ago

Moncies Franco (he/him) is a change agent with a passion for community transformation. As a 3rd generation incarcerated adult, and a person living with a chronic illness; he has overcome the associated stigma and shame tied to those experiences to champion healthcare accessibility… 1/5

Photograph of Moncies Franco, a Latino man with light brown skin. In this photo, he's wearing a tightly trimmed mustache and chin beard, short black hair with shaved sides, and a light blue button-down shirt, and he's gazing at something off-camera.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, September 1st, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 2mo ago

@minnesotaj.bsky.social is a poet and book artist in Minneapolis, MN. He is the author of 'Baghdad Express: A Gulf War Memoir' (Borealis/Penguin) and 'war | machine' (Nine Chains Press) and his work has appeared in GQ, Granta, NYT Magazine, Rain Taxi, VQR, and other journals. 1/5

Photograph of Joel Hernandez, a middle-aged Latino man. In this photo, he's wearing glasses, a few days' growth of facial hair, short curly hair, and a brown jacket over a patterned blue-and-white button-down shirt. He has pale skin and is smiling.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, September 1st, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 4mo ago

Joe Davis (he/him) is an award-winning spoken word artist and bestselling author who uses poetry to power possibility. He is the founding director of Finding Your Freedom Practice, a wellness ecosystem  teaching body-centered practices through spoken word, writing, music, theater, film, … 1/7

Photograph of Joe Davis, a Black man with medium brown skin and black hair. In this photo, he's wearing a hat, a beard and mustache, and all-black clothes, including a T-shirt which says, "I just wanna make dope art and love my people."Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, July 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 4mo ago

Desdamona (she/her) is an internationally known Spoken Word & Hip Hop artist who has traveled the US & abroad delivering her seamless mixture of Spoken Word, Hip Hop lyricism and melody to the stage for a dynamic & engaging performance. When she's not on stage… 1/8

Photograph of Desdamona, a middle-aged white woman with very long wavy brown hair. In this photo, she's on stage singing into a microphone and wearing a black top and a bracelet; behind her, a blurred background including another singer.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, July 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 4mo ago

Tony Burgess (he/him) was a long-standing member of MPWW during 25-plus consecutive years of incarceration, and is a plumber by trade with a BA in Communication Studies and minors in Sociology and Business Management. … 1/6

Photograph of Tony Burgess, a white man with tanned skin. In this photo, he's got very short black-tending-to-silver hair, shaved on the sides, with a mustache and small goatee; he's wearing a dark blue jacket and stands in front of a window of words.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, July 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 4mo ago

folaṣade (they/she) (b. 1992) is a blackqueer neuro/quirky poet, curator, and organizer concerned with the immediate survival and ongoing liberation of people of the global majority. intuitively guided by her ancestors, folaṣade nurtures a reverence for indigeneity and the erotic… 1/8

Photograph of folaṣade, a Black person with medium-dark skin. In this photo, they are wearing a lavender sweatshirt, thin necklace, large-framed glasses, and their hair up in a topknot. She has a satisfied smile and is in a room with books and art.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, July 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 4mo ago

Nen G Ramirez (they/he) is a nonbinary Chicanx writer from Adrian, Michigan. They are the author of All Women Are Born Wailing (Black Lawrence Press, 2023), which was awarded the 2022 Acentos Book Prize. Ramirez received their MFA in poetry… 1/6

Photograph of Nen G Ramirez, a Chicanx person with light skin and black hair with green splashes. In this photo, they are sitting in a park; their face has multiple piercings and their eyelashes are enormous.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, July 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis.
Dr. Samantha Hancox-Li@sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com · 5mo ago

this is absolutely worth remembering: when the abolitionists began the struggle against the slave power, the slave power looked unbeatable. they fought anyways--a long, difficult, often thankless struggle. they fought anyways.

Jerry Edwards@jerryedwards.bsky.social · 5mo ago

1830s Northerner: "Why are you abolitionists advocating for the immediate abolishment of slavery nationwide? It's not going to happen. Neither party has the appetite to do it. It's a fantasy. You're wasting your time & creating discord with the South." Change takes time. You have to start somewhere.

ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 5mo ago

Eemanna (she/her) is a Minneapolis born and based multidisciplinary artist and community organizer.  A singer song-writer and rapper spanning across genres of hip hop, alternative and soul, Eemanna is also a ceramicist and podcast producer. … 1/2

Photograph of Eemanna, a young Black woman with medium-dark brown skin. In this photo she's wearing a matched pair of stretch pants and bandeau with orange and black patterning, large hoop earrings, a nostril ring, and short natural hair.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, June 2nd, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: mk zariel, Antonio Duke, Willard Malebear Jr., Adrien Wright, and Eemanna.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 5mo ago

Adrien Wright (they/them) is a poet, performer, and costume designer who lives and works in Minneapolis. Their poems have appeared in the Midway Journal and Selfish Magazine, as well as on stages at the Midwest Poetry Mash-Up, the NorthBEAST Regional Poetry Slam, … 1/2

Photograph of Adrien Wright, a nonbinary white person with dark brown hair. In this photo, they are wearing blue striped overalls and a red/white and blue/white striped shirt, a safety-pin necklace, and mid-length curly hair with two long pigtails. They're somewhere outside, with a rock formation in the background.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, June 2nd, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: mk zariel, Antonio Duke, Willard Malebear Jr., Adrien Wright, and Eemanna.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 5mo ago

Willard Malebear Jr. (he/him) is an artist, community organizer, and creative wellness advocate based in Minneapolis. He is the founder and executive chairman of Art Shelf, a nonprofit that operates like a food shelf for art supplies, providing free creative materials, … 1/3

BildBildFlyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, June 2nd, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: mk zariel, Antonio Duke, Willard Malebear Jr., Adrien Wright, and Eemanna.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 5mo ago

Antonio Duke (he/him) is a Twin Cities based actor and playwright. He is the program director of The Ifẹ̀ (Ee-fay) Lab which is a fellowship highlighting black solo performing artists. The fellowship combines film and live performances culminating… 1/6

Photograph of Antonio Duke, a young Black man with medium-dark brown skin. In this photo, he's wearing short freshly trimmed hair, a trim goatee and mustache, and a long-sleeve black shirt. He's seated and smiling.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, June 2nd, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: mk zariel, Antonio Duke, Willard Malebear Jr., Adrien Wright, and Eemanna.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 5mo ago

mk zariel (it/its + masc terms) is a transmasculine neuroqueer theater artist, Best Of The Net and Monarch Award nominated poet, movement journalist, and BashBack aligned anarchist. it is fueled by folk-punk, Emma Goldman, and existential dread. … 1/3

mk zariel's logo, a line drawing of a crouching fox superimposed on a square diagonally divided between black and pink.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, June 2nd, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: mk zariel, Antonio Duke, Willard Malebear Jr., Adrien Wright, and Eemanna.
ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 5mo ago

"Conbody vs Everybody, a singular, sprawling portrait of redemption and hard-earned resilience in one of New York City’s most rapidly gentrified neighborhoods, told through the hub of one unlikely gym [started and staffed by formerly incarcerated people]." www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ap...

‘What we’re doing is real justice’: how one New York gym built a pipeline away from prison

Debra Granik’s five-hour documentary shows a former drug dealer turned entrepreneur striving to beat a system that continues to punish those that have served time

theguardian.com

ReEntry Lab@reentrylab.org · 5mo ago

Please join us on Tuesday, June 2nd, at 7:00pm, at @moonpalacebooks.bsky.social, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: @mkzariel.bsky.social, Antonio Duke, Willard Malebear Jr., Adrien Wright, and Eemanna, followed by an open mic. More at reentrylab.org/better-things

Better Things Gathering & Open Mic - gatherings for social change - ReEntry Lab

Better Things is a series of events sponsored by the ReEntry Lab, in partnership with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) and Moon Palace Books.

reentrylab.org