The premiere nonprofit for providing women-specific tools, resources and care to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.

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The art + science of breaking injustice

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No mentors

or leadership

Depression

& isolation

Being taken advantage of

Drugs / crime

Prison

Overburdened rehabilitation resources

Released with dismal support

Poverty

No support structure

Discriminated

in job market

Featured Success Story: Laura

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United Nations SDGs

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FIST announces its pledge to support the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Mission & vision​

 

One day, injustice will be just a word in the dictionary.

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Where we serve​

 

Currently focusing on the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women in Jessup Maryland

How We Work

Our Story - Prison to Poetry

When FIST first started, we were a small team bringing poetry behind bars. We knew there was therapeutic and healing power behind poems, but we saw more empowerment than anything else.

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Writing poetry requires us to be honest with ourselves and others about our feelings and perspectives. Being true to yourself gives clarity and boosts self esteem.

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Our Poetry Showcase is a confidence-building event set up for committed members of the FIST program to exhibit their work in front of a select audience. Showcases bring out the best in people because they challenge comfort zones and empower individuals to take the next step forward in their lives. 

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Since then, we have been working to expand our services to women to include in-prison and post-prison resources and workshops that are designed to break barriers.

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