#FreeAmerica

exists to amplify the voices of individuals impacted by the criminal justice system and those who are working to change it.

By challenging stereotypes, breaking down barriers, and uplifting solutions, we are helping to end mass incarceration and invest in just, equitable, and thriving communities across the United States.

Growing up in Springfield, Ohio, John Legend saw firsthand how the criminal justice system impacted his family, his friends, and his neighborhood. In 2014, after years of championing educational equity through The Show Me Campaign, Legend founded #FREEAMERICA, which aims to shine a light on the injustices of mass incarceration. Through both his education and criminal justice work, Legend is creating a movement to build thriving, just, and equitable communities by giving every person both freedom from systemic hurdles that hold them back and the opportunity to unlock their greatest potential.

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“I just believe that it doesn’t always take a person who commits crimes over and over and over again to wind up in prison. Something can happen in your life – and it can take thirty seconds – and it can change your entire life.”

– Tonie