CREATIVE WRITING
The Creative Writing Gallery includes writing entries and winners from our detention center writing contests as well as stories written as part of our other creative writing programs with our other program partners. The stories are published as originally written, with minor edits as needed for clarity. We hope you enjoy reading these stories from our clients, and thank you for helping them to be heard!
Each artist whose work is posted on our site has signed a Heard media release or verbally given permission for the work to be posted on this site and shared via our social media platforms.
Okay, Not Okay
Michael D. Nash First place, nonfiction, Heard/Arlington County Detention Facility writing...
A Face of the Epidemic
A FACE OF THE EPIDEMIC by Ebonie Warren First place winner, nonfiction, Heard/Arlington County...
Mass Incarceration
Mass Incarceration by Semhar Teclay Third place winner (tie) nonfiction, Heard/Arlington County...
How It Happened
How It Happened by Deonte Johnson Second place, nonfiction, Heard/Arlington County Detention...
What is Your Vision of What Hope and Change Looks Like?
What is Your Vision of What Hope and Change Looks Like? by VE Heard/Arlington County Detention...
Be Strong Black Man Don’t Cry
Be Strong Black Man Don’t Cry by VE Heard/Arlington County Detention Center/OAR writing contest,...
The N Word
The N Word by Aaron Bunche Heard/Arlington County Detention Center/OAR writing contest, August...
The System is Broken
The System is Broken by Wendell Bates Heard/Arlington County Detention Center/OAR writing contest,...
You’ve Been Warned
You’ve Been Warned by Walter D. Kissee Second place winner, fiction, Heard/Arlington County...
Dreamer
Dreamer by Derrick Barnes First place winner - fiction, Heard/Arlington County Detention...
Creative Writing
Visual Arts
Improvisation
Etiquette
Public Speaking
Dance
Singing
