ReEntry Lab

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from ReEntry Lab, Social service, Minneapolis, MN.

We are building bridges between formerly incarcerated writers and other artists and literary and arts communities ready to receive them, creating connections, and helping stories get into a world often reluctant to hear them.

08/25/2026

One week to go!

Please join us on Tuesday, September 1st, at 7:00pm, at Moon Palace Books, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson, followed by an open mic.

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Joel Hernandez (he/him) is a poet and book artist in Minneapolis, MN. He is the author of 'Baghdad Express: A Gulf War Memoir' (Borealis/Penguin) and 'war | machine' (Nine Chains Press) and his work has appeared in GQ, Granta, NYT Magazine, Rain Taxi, VQR, and other journals.

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Hawti (she/her) is a poet from Minneapolis, doing poetry ever since starting out with TruArtSpeaks' Be Heard MN youth poetry slam series and BuckSlam monthly poetry slams.

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Moncies Franco (he/him) is a change agent with a passion for community transformation. As a 3rd generation incarcerated adult and a person living with a chronic illness; he has overcome the associated stigma and shame tied to those experiences to champion healthcare accessibility and equitable treatment for people impacted by the criminal legal system.

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Beau RaRa (they/them) is a poet hailing from the land of ten thousand lakes. They are a post-conviction lawyer and circle keeper by day and moonlight as an aerialist teaching at Phoenix Flight Studio in Minneapolis. Beau believes that relationship is the locus of transformative change. You can find them teaching poetry for the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) or working on their first book at an upcoming residency in Oaxaca with Arquetopia Foundation.

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Khary Jackson (he/they/any) is a writer, dancer and musician. Khary has been a recipient of generous grants, including the 2019 Jerome Artist Fellowship and 2022 McKnight Fellowship in Writing. In 2020/21 Khary co-composed a MNiatures commission with MN Opera.

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Better Things is a series of events sponsored by the ReEntry Lab, an organization working to connect writers and other artists leaving incarceration to a community that’s ready to receive them.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

08/17/2026

Khary Jackson (he/they/any) is a writer, dancer and musician. Khary has been a recipient of generous grants, including the 2019 Jerome Artist Fellowship and 2022 McKnight Fellowship in Writing. In 2020/21 Khary co-composed a MNiatures commission with MN Opera.

🎤

Please join us on Tuesday, September 1st, at 7:00pm, at Moon Palace Books, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson, followed by an open mic.

Both reading and open mic will feature ASL interpretation.

Light refreshments will be served; masks are encouraged at Moon Palace Books and are available on-site. This is a free event.

Better Things is a series of events sponsored by the ReEntry Lab, in partnership with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) and Moon Palace Books. The ReEntry Lab is an organization working to connect writers and other artists leaving incarceration to a community that’s ready to receive them.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

08/15/2026

Beau RaRa (they/them) is a poet hailing from the land of ten thousand lakes. They are a post-conviction lawyer and circle keeper by day and moonlight as an aerialist teaching at Phoenix Flight Studio in Minneapolis. Beau believes that relationship is the locus of transformative change. You can find them teaching poetry for the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) or working on their first book at an upcoming residency in Oaxaca with Arquetopia Foundation.

🎤

Please join us on Tuesday, September 1st, at 7:00pm, at Moon Palace Books, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson, followed by an open mic.

Both reading and open mic will feature ASL interpretation.

Light refreshments will be served; masks are encouraged at Moon Palace Books and are available on-site. This is a free event.

Better Things is a series of events sponsored by the ReEntry Lab, in partnership with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) and Moon Palace Books. The ReEntry Lab is an organization working to connect writers and other artists leaving incarceration to a community that’s ready to receive them.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

08/13/2026

Moncies Franco (he/him) is a change agent with a passion for community transformation. As a 3rd generation incarcerated adult, and a person living with a chronic illness; he has overcome the associated stigma and shame tied to those experiences to champion healthcare accessibility and equitable treatment for people impacted by the criminal legal system.

🎤

Please join us on Tuesday, September 1st, at 7:00pm, at Moon Palace Books, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson, followed by an open mic.

Both reading and open mic will feature ASL interpretation.

Light refreshments will be served; masks are encouraged at Moon Palace Books and are available on-site. This is a free event.

Better Things is a series of events sponsored by the ReEntry Lab, in partnership with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) and Moon Palace Books. The ReEntry Lab is an organization working to connect writers and other artists leaving incarceration to a community that’s ready to receive them.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

08/11/2026

Joel Hernandez (he/him) is a poet and book artist in Minneapolis, MN. He is the author of 'Baghdad Express: A Gulf War Memoir' (Borealis/Penguin) and 'war | machine' (Nine Chains Press) and his work has appeared in GQ, Granta, NYT Magazine, Rain Taxi, VQR, and other journals.

🎤

Please join us on Tuesday, September 1st, at 7:00pm, at Moon Palace Books, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau RaRa, and Khary Jackson, followed by an open mic.

Both reading and open mic will feature ASL interpretation.

Light refreshments will be served; masks are encouraged at Moon Palace Books and are available on-site. This is a free event.

Better Things is a series of events sponsored by the ReEntry Lab, in partnership with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) and Moon Palace Books. The ReEntry Lab is an organization working to connect writers and other artists leaving incarceration to a community that’s ready to receive them.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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08/05/2026

Please join us on Tuesday, September 1st, at 7:00pm, at Moon Palace Books, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson.

Each featured artist will take five minutes to share work. After the main reading, there will be a short break for refreshments, followed by an open mic period. All are welcome to show up and participate in the open mic! (List is first come, first serve.) This reading, and the open mic afterward, will be hosted by Davi Gray and Cecily McMillan; both reading and open mic will feature ASL interpretation.

Light refreshments will be served; masks are encouraged at Moon Palace Books and are available on-site. This is a free event.

Better Things is a series of events sponsored by the ReEntry Lab, in partnership with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) and Moon Palace Books. The ReEntry Lab is an organization working to connect writers and other artists leaving incarceration to a community that’s ready to receive them.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to legislative appropriations from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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07/17/2026

Please join us on Tuesday, August 4th, at 7:00pm, at Moon Palace Books, for our next gathering, wherein we'll have discussions and activities centered on Black August, its history and what it means for us today, followed by an open mic.

All are welcome to show up and participate in the open mic - with a limit of five minutes per person. (List is first come, first serve.) This gathering, and the open mic afterward, will be hosted by Davi Gray and Erin Sharkey.

Light refreshments will be served; masks are required at Moon Palace Books and are available on-site. This is a free event.

Better Things is a series of events sponsored by the ReEntry Lab, in partnership with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) and Moon Palace Books. The ReEntry Lab is an organization working to connect writers and other artists leaving incarceration to a community that’s ready to receive them.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to legislative appropriations from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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07/02/2026

Next Tuesday, July 7th, 7pm at Moon Palace Books - free & full of energy, featuring an amazing lineup with Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, Joe Davis, and (maybe) *you* at the open mic 👀

Come on down, wear a mask (also available at the venue, free), grab some free snacks - see you there?

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This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

06/24/2026

Joe Davis (he/him) is an award-winning spoken word artist and bestselling author who uses poetry to power possibility.
He is the founding director of Finding Your Freedom Practice, a wellness ecosystem teaching body-centered practices through spoken word, writing, music, theater, film, and dance. Joe holds a Master of Arts degree in Theology of the Arts and also heads a multimedia production company, a soul funk band, and a racial justice education program. His work has been featured on BET, MPR, CNN, VH1, and the Twin Cities CW.
Based in Minneapolis, he tours internationally to join schools, faith spaces, nonprofits, businesses, and correctional facilities to practice envisioning and embodying a world of collective liberation and human flourishing. To connect, book, or learn more, visit JoeDavisPoetry.com.

🎤

Please join us on Tuesday, July 7th, at 7:00pm, at Moon Palace Books, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis, followed by an open mic.

Both reading and open mic will feature ASL interpretation.

Light refreshments will be served; masks are required at Moon Palace Books and are available on-site. This is a free event.

Better Things is a series of events sponsored by the ReEntry Lab, in partnership with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) and Moon Palace Books. The ReEntry Lab is an organization working to connect writers and other artists leaving incarceration to a community that’s ready to receive them.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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06/22/2026

Desdamona (she/her) is an internationally known Spoken Word & Hip Hop artist who has traveled the US & abroad delivering her seamless mixture of Spoken Word, Hip Hop lyricism and melody to the stage for a dynamic & engaging performance. When she's not on stage she spends her time working in schools, prisons and community centers. Des co-founded B-Girl Be in 2005, a first-of-its-kind celebration of women's contributions to Hip Hop culture, and has been a champion for young & marginalized voices, providing space for artists to hone their skills.
Desdamona has toured France extensively and has been invited to be on numerous French releases ranging from jazz and experimental music to hip hop and electronic styles. She has opened for such acts as Saul Williams, Ursula Rucker, GURU, The Digable Planets and KRS One. In 2014, she was chosen as a lead in a nationally run ad campaign for K-Mart. Des has received multiple MN State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grants, The Verve Grant, A Knight Arts Challenge Grant and received awards from the MN Music Academy and the MN Spoken Word Association.

🎤

Please join us on Tuesday, July 7th, at 7:00pm, at Moon Palace Books, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis, followed by an open mic.

Both reading and open mic will feature ASL interpretation.

Light refreshments will be served; masks are required at Moon Palace Books and are available on-site. This is a free event.

Better Things is a series of events sponsored by the ReEntry Lab, in partnership with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) and Moon Palace Books. The ReEntry Lab is an organization working to connect writers and other artists leaving incarceration to a community that’s ready to receive them.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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Address

Minneapolis, MN

Website

https://reentrylab.org/

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