New York, NY - Last May, John Bunn, a wrongfully-convicted New Yorker who had his case overturned in 2016,
launched a book drive for
incarcerated individuals. Bunn learned to read during his 17-year
incarceration. Eventually, he was vindicated for a crime he did not
commit.
Upon his release, he pledged to give back to others that
were imprisoned and created Voice 4 the Unheard, where he collected over 3,000 books in just a month. As the initiative expanded, he began to receive magazines from The Source, the legendary music publication, and from other New Yorkers who wanted to support the program.
For
years, Bunn
had dreamed of getting the books into the hands of inmates. In effort to
accomplish his objective, he joined other criminal justice reform
groups, including The Friends of Island Academy and others. Bunn was asked to speak at the organization's
workshop and gave away literature to students in attendance. He also donated books to the Medgar
Evers College Block Party, Hostos Community College
and at local Brooklyn block parties. However, he was determined
to get books into jails where many of the libraries were inadequate.
By October 2017,
Voice 4 the Unheard had collected over 5,000 books.
In October 2017, Voice 4 the Unheard
received clearance to donate books to Rikers Island and address the
families of incarcerated young people. It was a dream come true for Bunn,
who seized the opportunity to talk about the importance of literature and reading, both of which
helped save his life.
The organization continues to collect books, and Bunn currently works with
other advocates who are working to ensure that a level of fairness is maintained within the criminal justice
system.
Bunn will deliver an address before the Children of Promise
on February 13.
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