The Douglass Project seeks to bring people incarcerated and community members together for face-to-face conversations that highlight our shared humanity.
The Frederick Douglass Project aims to enhance public speaking and self-advocacy skills for incarcerated individuals and foster empathy and inspiration among community members. These interactions are designed to drive personal and systemic change, grounded in reality and compassion.
Visits involve 15-20 external participants, ranging from individuals to coordinated groups like book clubs or college classes. Douglass Project staff organize these visits, which include facility tours and meaningful conversations with a group of incarcerated residents, using effective methods for respectful and honest dialogue.
As the project expands, we're engaging with facilities in New York, and Washington DC, and exploring partnerships in California and Tennessee, anticipating new collaborations soon.
Current Situation
95% of incarcerated people will eventually return to society
Public perceptions perpetuate stigma and undermine opportunity and stability upon release
Human impacts are not prioritized in sentencing, confinement, and release policy
Hopelessness is pervasive among the justice-involved, undermining behaviors and choices — both before and after release
“After years feeling hamstrung and hopeless regarding the criminal justice system, the Douglass Project has given me hope for positive change.”
“I’m always amazed how strangers can engage in meaningful, unconditional dialogue, and that dialogue can change perception, thought process, and ultimately, outcome.”
Strategies
Leverage prison visits and face-to-face meetings with diverse groups of people to build hopefulness, promote pro-social behaviors, and foster self-awareness
Bring together a broad set of people who would otherwise never encounter one another
Foster open dialogue and conversations that encourage human connections and mutual understanding
Model positive and respectful interactions and engagement
Outcomes
Decreased recidivism
More stable families and safer communities Fewer disciplinary infractions and lower prison violence
Increased understanding and greater empathy among external participants for those impacted by the justice system
Justice reform that reflects the realities of who goes to prison, what happens to them while they are there, and the challenges of reentry
Tactics
Facilitate in-person visits and conversations between outside visitors and incarcerated people
Highlight the shared humanity among the diverse groups of participant
Provide opportunities for prisoners to develop and deepen social, public speaking, and self-advocacy skills
Provide support for outside visitors to utilize their newfound understanding within their professional and personal spheres