The Gift of Being Seen: A Day with Freedom Reads
At Greenbridge, we often talk about the discipline of optimism and the transformative power of proximity. We believe that to truly understand the impact of our partners, we have to move beyond the check and "show up"—not just as funders, but as witnesses to the work being done on the front lines.
Recently, we had the profound privilege of doing exactly that. We traveled to the California Medical Facility (CMF) in Vacaville to help install new Freedom Libraries in partnership with Freedom Reads.
For those who haven’t yet met their work, Freedom Reads is a remarkable organization founded by Reginald Dwayne Betts—a poet, author, and visionary leader. His mission is as beautiful as it is urgent: to bring connection, inspiration, and hope into prisons through the physical gift of books and the dignity of beautifully handcrafted spaces.
Excellence in Every Detail
From the moment we arrived, we were blown away. Often in social impact work, people settle for "good enough," but Freedom Reads operates with a standard of absolute excellence. We saw it in the quality of the staff, the craftsmanship of the cherry wood housing, and the deeply intentional collection of literary works Dwayne and his team have curated.
As we looked through the titles, we turned to each other and realized: If we were ever stranded on a desert island and could only have one shelf of books, this would be it. The collection isn't just a library; it’s a portal to other worlds, offering a level of intellectual respect to the readers that is too often missing in the carceral system.
The Power of Being Seen
Beyond the books, Freedom Reads offered us an even greater gift: the chance to connect directly with the men inside CMF.
In those halls, we found men who were profoundly curious and deeply grateful. But more than that, we met men who were desperate to be heard, seen, and valued by the world outside. It was a humbling honor to sit with them—to hear their stories, share a laugh, listen to their poetry, and talk about what they love to read.
We’ve always believed that no one should be defined by their worst mistake. This visit reinforced that belief in a way that words can’t fully capture. We walked into the facility hoping to be of service, but we walked out profoundly changed by the humanity we encountered.
A Witness to Impact
We want to extend our deepest thanks to the Freedom Reads team for graciously allowing us to participate and witness the "magic" they are creating. It is a rare privilege to see such consistent excellence delivered with such a heavy dose of love.
Bravo to Dwayne and the entire team. We are honored to be on this journey with you.