BreakFree Education, Washington D.C., DC (2026)

Our mission is to radically improve education in the juvenile and criminal justice systems by investing in the potential and dignity of all its students.

06/17/2026

📢 New Episode Alert! 📢

Learning Lab Episode #20 features a special live conversation from BreakFree Education’s Cultivate Series with Grammy-winning artist and poet Tarriona “Tank” Ball of Tank and the Bangas.

In this episode, David Domenici and Tank reflect on the role creativity plays and explore how identity, trusted relationships, and self-expression help young people develop resilience, purpose, and belief in themselves. Recorded live at Baldwin & Co. Books in New Orleans, the conversation highlights the importance of helping young people stay connected to their voice and humanity, even when systems attempt to define them otherwise.

The episode also features student poems from Words Unlocked, BreakFree Education’s national poetry initiative, bringing the voices and experiences of incarcerated youth to a wider audience.

It’s a powerful reminder of the healing, connection, and possibility that can emerge when we create space for young people to tell their stories and be fully themselves.

🎧 Listen Here:
🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0KU7Dy91QRqq1IhyS7OdOZ
🔗 BreakFree: https://www.breakfree-ed.org/podcast/episode/3176204a/learning-lab-episode-20-cultivating-intrinsic-motivation-with-tarriona-tank-ball
🔗 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakfree-education/id1569236100

06/11/2026

📣 New Episode Alert! 📣

Learning Lab Episode #19 features a special live conversation hosted by David Domenici with Arne Duncan and Cedric Hawkins from Chicago CRED.

In this episode, David Domenici, Arne Duncan, and Cedric Hawkins examine how restorative practices can reduce violence, strengthen relationships, and create environments where young people feel valued, supported, and seen for their full humanity. They also reflect on the importance of building systems rooted in trust and dignity, particularly for youth impacted by trauma and the justice system.

It’s a powerful reminder that restorative practices are not just strategies—they are a way of creating communities centered on healing, belonging, and hope.

🎧 Listen Here:
🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7nkQK2D7GX6DpEFoTI69BV
🔗 BreakFree: https://www.breakfree-ed.org/podcast/episode/2a10e38e/learning-lab-episode-19-cultivating-restorative-practices-with-arne-duncan-and-cedric-hawkins
🔗 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-over-bars/id1569236100

04/13/2026

📢 New Episode Alert! 📢

Learning Lab Episode #18 features Kimberly McKenzie, a teacher in a mid level security facility.

In this episode, Christina and Kaylah sit down with Kimberly to explore her “why not” mentality in education. 💡 She shares how creating experiences, not just lessons, builds engagement, responsibility, and real world skills. From raising classroom animals to integrating AI and student led inquiry, Kimberly shows how curiosity and creativity can transform learning.

It is a powerful reminder that when educators embrace curiosity and care, meaningful learning can happen anywhere. 🌟

🎧 Listen Here
🔗Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0iDNI5Y9hFb6Nxx8SfMVa3
🔗BreakFree: breakfree-ed.org/podcast/episode/269b5451/
🔗Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-lab-episode-18-the-why-not-mentality/id1569236100?i=1000761175612

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