Project Poetic Justice, after the jail concert. The gym, Central Detention Facility, Washington, DC, May 2026.
Project Poetic Justice
Project Poetic Justice is an arts initiative at the DC Jail that empowers incarcerated youth (ages 18–24) through poetry, music composition, and personal storytelling. Ryan Alexander designed this project in collaboration with Johns Hopkins, The Petey Greene Program, Free Minds Book Club, the New Uncertainty Collective, and the Peabody Institute. The 10-week program helps participants build creative skills, develop personal branding, and expand reentry networks. It culminates in a community concert as well as a concert at the DC Jail, showcasing original works and highlighting the transformative role of the arts in carceral spaces.
One poem, start to finish
The poem by Ronzoni Jackson, 2026.
The score. Music by Colin Powell, 2026.
Project Poetic Justice community concert. Jade Etienne, mezzo-soprano, premiered the song with Dr. Xin Wu, piano. Busboys and Poets 450 K, Washington, DC, May 2026.
But it would be sweet to get a chance
Be back in my community
Need more than three meals a day
Just something that could take half my breath away
All I need is a plan
An opportunity
from Take Half My Breath Away, by Ronzoni Jackson (2026). The full poem is on PPJ's Instagram.
The founder
Ryan Alexander has taught inside the DC Jail with the Inspiring Youth Program since 2019. He noticed, week after week, that a lot of what the young people were writing already wanted to be sung. Through Peabody he knew the composers and singers who could do that.
So he built it: a ten-week program with the Writing Seminars and the jail as partners, and one rule he has kept from the start, that the writers hear the songs first. He still leads the work at the jail and the program's relationships across DC.
2027
year three
Same shape, planned
Sessions from February, concerts in May. The fall is for raising the money that makes it happen.
2026
year two
The program returns
DC Jail · Busboys and Poets, 450 K St NW
Weekly sessions at the jail from February through April. The facility concert in May, with certificates for the writers. Then, on May 2, a free community concert at Busboys and Poets with a panel on reentry: Antoine J. Pugh of the DC Department of Corrections, Rachel Russo of the School Justice Project, Valerie Coats of the Georgetown Prison Scholars Program, Colie "Shaka" Long of the Georgetown Prison and Justice Initiative, and Gene Downing, Big Gee Da Poet, of Free Minds. Dr. Jane Lewty moderated.
2025
year one
Ten songs, two concerts
DC Jail · Church of the Epiphany, Washington
Ten new songs on texts by incarcerated writers, developed across the spring. Performed inside the facility on May 2, and the next day at a free community concert and panel at the Church of the Epiphany downtown.
Project Poetic Justice, community concert panel. Busboys and Poets 450 K, Washington, DC, May 2026.
Project Poetic Justice, community concert. Busboys and Poets 450 K, Washington, DC, May 2026.
The songs
2026
Take Half My Breath Away · music by Colin Powell · text by Ronzoni Jackson
The rest of the 2026 program is coming.
2025
One day I'ma be free · music by Young-Jun Lee · text by Kharris Akinola
Freedom · music by Luis F. Ruiz-Pacheco · text by Jeremiah Evans
Don't Play My Game! · music by Meg Huskin · text by Mark Fletcher
Memory · music by Juwon Lim · text by Jordan Grice
I can Predict the Future · music by Zac Fick-Cambria · text by Dallas McKinney
Video Visits on Me · music by Ahmed Karam · text by Damari McLaughlin
"Woodman, We Must Hurry Back to Dorothy!" · music by Ahmed Karam · text by Damari McLaughlin
Tomar's Song · music by Marie Herrington · text by Tomar McWilliams
Prayer · music by Aleksandra Woźniak · text by Trevon Thompson
Countdown to Lockdown · music by David Carlton Adams · text by DaMarco Utley
With poetry readings by Trevon Thompson, Marquis Derby, and Teonne Carson between sets, and Dr. Xin Wu at the piano.
Photographs: Project Poetic Justice.
Press
"I'm locked up, not washed up": young people incarcerated at DC jail get poetry, music lessons · WTOP, Scott Gelman, May 2025
Project Poetic Justice gives incarcerated youth a voice, and a second chance · Peabody Creative Wire
Project Poetic Justice brings art song to the DC Jail · Vocal Arts DC, by Ryan Alexander, 2025
5 Questions to Ryan Alexander · I Care If You Listen, Thulasi Seshan, April 2026
Thank you
Project Poetic Justice is made possible by the Peabody Institute, the Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars, the Petey Greene Program, Free Minds Book Club, Peabody LAUNCHPad, the DC Department of Corrections, and many individual donors.
Help year three happen
The program runs on artist fees, materials, transportation, and time. If you want to help, or you run a series that would like to host a PPJ program, write to newuncertaintycollective@gmail.com.