Inspired by the show Lincoln Lawyer, junior Saesha Agarwal is hosting a book drive and partnering with the Inside Books Project, an Austin-based nonprofit organization that provides reading materials to inmates in reformation programs throughout Texas.
“In this show, someone had been convicted to prison,” Agarwal said. “They were then given the opportunity to read books, which they failed to do because of inadequate resources. This inspired me to research about a solution online, and since I was part of the book club last year, I was able to find the Inside Books Project.”
Agarwal has dedicated boxes in places around the school, including the library, for people to donate any book they can.
“These books are important because people can learn and receive new opportunities outside of prison,” Agarwal said. “It works as remediation in which prisoners have the opportunity to try something new with their life. If something piques their interest in the books, then that’s something that they could pursue once their conviction time is over.”
Research by Rand Education shows that individuals who participate in educational movements while incarcerated are significantly less likely to return to prison.
“I think that we should give everyone an opportunity at a second life,” Agarwal said. “If they want to try something new, they should definitely take a stab at it, especially when we have so many books that we can donate to them. A goal I had with this book drive was to expand students’ reach in the community. Even a small step of donating a book can have a big impact on someone’s life.”
Students can receive one volunteer hour for every two books that they donate to the drive.
“I believe that donating books is an important cause because the donations can help anybody,” freshman Can Kong said. “Books contain knowledge for all ages and professions, allowing us to improve through our personal interpretations.”
The book drive can also create a connection within the community as students start thinking about how they can help give other people the opportunity to grow, with the simple act of donating a book that they have no intention of reading.
“Having access to books will help inmates because they gain better reading skills and gain life lessons through reading,” freshman Huda Anikad said. “This is why I think people should participate in the book drive because they are contributing to an amazing cause.”
