An Evening with Reginald Dwayne Betts: Poetry, Justice & Books
About this Event
Join us for an inspiring evening with award-winning poet, lawyer, and visionary founder Freedom Reads, Reginald Dwayne Betts, as he shares his work and explores the transformative power of literature, storytelling, and imagination.
At sixteen, Betts was sentenced to nine years in adult Pr*son for an armed carjacking. It was there that he discovered poetry and the law—two forces that would shape his life’s work. Through poetry, memoir, theater, photography, and film, Betts has spent decades examining the questions of how a child ends up behind bars, what justice looks like, and what it means to find a path home.
A MacArthur Fellowship recipient, Betts is the author of six books, including A Question of Freedom and Doggerel. His solo theater work Felon: An American Washi Tale has been performed at San Quentin State Pr*son and the Perelman Performing Arts Center. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he serves as an Associate Research Scholar.
Betts is also the founder and CEO of Freedom Reads, an organization dedicated to placing beautifully crafted libraries inside Pr*son cell blocks—bringing books within reach of people who need them most. Built on the belief that “freedom begins with a book,” Freedom Reads reflects Betts’ lifelong commitment to the idea that stories can open doors, build empathy, and create possibility.
About Doggerel:
Dwayne's most recent poetry book, Doggerel, was released on March 4, 2025. Simultaneously philosophical and playful, Doggerel is a meditation on family, falling in love, friendship, and those who accompany us on our walk-through life. Dwayne is donating 54 cents to Freedom Reads for each copy of Doggerel sold, the amount he was paid per hour as a Pr*son librarian during his incarceration.
Event Notes:
Whose Books is normally closed on Mondays; however, we are excited to open our doors for this special opportunity to host Reginald Dwayne Betts.
Doggerel will be available for purchase in the store. We encourage you to support local and purchase your copy from Whose Books.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
