Who we are

Empowerment Avenue is a non-profit 501(c)(3) founded by Rahsaan "New York" Thomas and freelance writer Emily Nonko while Rahsaan was incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison in Marin County, California. Rahsaan paroled in February of 2023 and now serves as the Executive Director.

Our approach includes building inside-outside partnerships based on distinct themes and support services. We currently have three active tracks. Writing for Liberation supports journalists, writers and poets. Visual Arts for Liberation supports visual artists. Film for Liberation, our newest track, builds power through documentary storytelling in collaboration with currently and formerly incarcerated people. Rooted in collective liberation, this track grows from the impact of Rahsaan's Friendly Signs and Adamu Chan's What These Walls Won't Hold — continuing the work of transforming narratives and reclaiming our stories from inside and beyond the walls. Now Empowerment Avenue works with currently incarcerated filmmakers to bring their stories to the screen.

**We do not have an open application process. We recruit artists and writers who have already begun their professional and creative careers. We realize these people hit many barriers due to the prison system. That's where we come in — we recruit artists and writers, ask them what kind of support they need to continue their careers from inside prison, and do our best to meet those needs.