Led by Comic Books for Justice (CB4J) in partnership with the SUNY Office of Higher Education in Prison and Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison, this initiative harnesses the transformative power of comics to build literacy, spark confidence, and inspire hope within New York State’s correctional facilities.

Together, we are distributing 10,000 comic books to incarcerated individuals across New York—placing engaging, accessible educational tools directly into the hands of people who have been systematically excluded from learning opportunities. This is more than a book distribution. It’s a movement toward freedom through education.

Why It Matters

Nearly 70% of incarcerated individuals in the United States read at or below a 4th-grade level—a devastating reflection of the educational barriers faced by people impacted by the criminal legal system. Limited access to literacy resources fuels cycles of inequality and increases the likelihood of recidivism by cutting off pathways to opportunity, self-expression, and success.

CB4J believes comics are part of the solution.

Comics are powerful because they are approachable, visually engaging, and deeply human. They invite readers in. They build confidence. They strengthen literacy, critical thinking, and imagination—while helping individuals see themselves as capable learners and storytellers. For many, comics become the gateway to deeper education, healthier self-expression, and the belief that a different future is possible.

Join the Movement

Our GoFundMe campaign is the first step in turning this vision into reality—and you can be part of the change.

Your support helps place comics into correctional facilities and community programs across New York State, reaching incarcerated individuals and system-impacted youth at moments when hope matters most. Every donation helps open a door, spark curiosity, and remind someone that their story is still being written.

Together, we can turn the page on illiteracy, challenge inequality, and create pathways to freedom through literacy—one comic book at a time.