From 2014 - 2024 the People’s Paper Co-op (PPC) used a collaborative and multidisciplinary process to work directly with communities in Philadelphia that were impacted by the criminal legal system. These projects reshaped the reductive and discriminatory stories that criminal records tell into creative projects and installations that imagined a future world beyond our broken systems. Their massive public art campaigns and exhibitions reached tens of thousands of viewers and their art raised over $240,000 to free Black moms and caregivers. For Mother’s Day 2026, the PPC is launching their book and a corresponding exhibition focused on supporting, empowering, and expanding local abolitionist movements.
From the PPC:
“Let’s Get Free: The Transformative Art and Activism of the People’s Paper Co-op, is an almost 200 page love note overflowing with gratitude to our friends, collaborators, partners, and abolitionist allies. It’s hard to believe that what began in 2014 as a short artist residency at The Village of Arts and Humanities in North Philadelphia grew into a decade-long project where so many dreams and aspirations came to fruition.
Making this book we asked ourselves and dozens of our collaborators…what is the impact of a project? There are some known knowns: brave, sassy, and loving people made art. People were freed through this art. This art reached massive audiences. People built trust and lasting relationships, and their confidence bloomed. There were incredibly loud and public moments: the rush of cheers and tears as people came through prison gates or hundreds echoed slogans of solidarity down Philadelphia’s Broad Street. There were also wonderfully quiet and intimate ones: the sound of laughter, writing, and shared meals between PPC Fellows in our beautiful, run-down North Philly storefront.
More than anything, we want this book to be celebratory. Because against so many odds, we all made it happen. This project was a rare and powerful vehicle for building community based in love, shared power, justified rage, and collective dreams. It required the hearts, brains, and superpowers of such a wonderfully diverse group of collaborators—from the incredible PPC Fellows to artists, lawyers, city officials, filmmakers, librarians, professors, patient friends and families.
There’s so much we all need to keep fighting for.
With unending thanks and in solidarity,
Courtney Bowles and Mark Strandquist”
First printing May Day, 2026
Organized and written by Courtney Bowles and Mark Strandquist
Introduction by Nicole Fleetwood
Essays by Raquel De Anda, Sharita Towne, and Daniel Tucker
Cover and book design by Jason Killinger
Copy editing by Emilie Rex
All photos in this book were taken by Mark Strandquist, unless otherwise noted.
100% of proceeds from the sale of this book will go to community bail funds.
Thank you to everyone who made this book and project possible.
Endless thanks to all the artists (including so many rad Justseeds artists!) who contributed to the Free Our Mothers! Sisters! Queens! Campaign
V Adams, Afroplump, Tomie Arai, Alex Aldrich Barrett, Micah Bizant, Elizabeth Blancas, Caitlin Blunnie, Pippin Frisbie Calder, Melanie Cervantes, etta cetera, Devon Cohen, Lisa Congdon, Olly Costello, Molly Crabapple, Eleanor Davis, Kate DeCiccio, Noa Denmon, Josey S. Diaz, Corinne Dodenhoff, Juana Estrada Hernández, Molly Fair, Angelica Frausto, Thea Gahr, Shoshana Gordon, Guard N Flags, Singha Hon, Sanya Hyland, Hokzyn, Rose Jaffe, Katie Kaplan, Amir Khadar, Kill Joy, Shyama Kuver, Lapiztola, Malachi Lily, Nile Livingston, LMNOPI, Ashley Lukashevsky, Nicole Marroquin, beyon wren moor, Bekezela Mguni, Shani Peters, Cristy Road, Camila Rosa, Jess X Snow, Meredith Stern,Shanna Strauss, Swoon, Aryanna Tischler, Rommy Torrico, Sharita Towne, Mary Tremonte, Monica Trinidad, Loveis Wise, Nina Yagual, Kah Yangni, Bec Young
PEOPLE'S PAPER CO-OP FELLOWS 2016-2023:
Aesha Barnett, Faith Bartley, Val Bell, Rusty Bentley, Carmelita Bird, Evonia Bivens, Latyra Blake, Jonquil Brown, Catherine Brown, Toni Brown, Antionette Carter, Crystal, Kelly Conway, Hakima Cooper, Nashae Cooper, Doreen Cuffie, Kerri DeLeo, Tasheema Flamer, Jamila Harris, Rochelle Harris, Tinika Hogan, Stephanie Jackson, Ivy Johnson, Kali Lamb, Nikkie Lee-Smith, Sheri Lopez, Kitty Marrero, Rosa McKnight, Latonya “T” Myers, Tracey Parker Gilbert, Adrian Perry, Brya Pickron, Janaya Pulliam, Tonya Randolph, Veronica Rex, Siani Rodriguez, Ros Ryder, Teresa Saunders, Michelle Scales, Lisa Shorter, Carolyn Smith, Monique Taylor, Kaylena Tabb, Amy Tlapa, Stephanie Waters, Heather Wiester, Telfa Wills, and Tyleen Wood
