Named after the carrier pigeons of old, delivering messages to far-away places, The Carrier Pigeon Post newspaper provides hope through stories and education. We offer the opportunity for intellectual growth, self-reflection, and the testimonies of others who have successfully reentered society through printed materials specifically curated for the incarcerated.
"You cannot talk about paying a debt to society from a jail cell without windows… there is no humane punishment without a horizon. No one can change their life if they don't see a horizon. And so many times we are used to blocking the view of our inmates." -Pope Francis
The Carrier Pigeon Post presents rich tales combined with practical information to help inmates, as they prepare for their own integration back into free society.
J.R.R. Tolkien, author of Lord of the Rings, and creator of the Middle Earth universe wrote another famous work, the essay On Fairy-stories. While fantasy and science fiction are quite prevalent now, in Tolkien’s day, such work was suspect. He was accused of being escapist. But rather than defend against it, Tolkien leaned heavily into the virtue of such literature. He considered “escape” to be one of positive features of fairy-stories.
“Why should a man be scorned if finding himself in prison… he thinks and talks about other topics than jailers and prison walls. The world outside has not become less real because the prisoner cannot see it.”
And so the notion of a fairy-story has very particular purpose. It is a story with a happy ending. Despite the tragedy that affects most of humanity, a fairy story is a glimpse of how it should be, how it will be in the end. It is a story of hope that brings light to the darkness of the present.
Sonya Cronin is a lecturer at Florida State University, and teaches for FSU's International Programs. She has her Doctorate specializing in Biblical Studies from Florida State University and teaches in multiple contexts. She is also the co-founder of Joseph House in Tallahassee, Florida, a re-entry home for men coming out of prison.
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Hannah Katanic is a UX/Product Designer. She has worked with several nonprofit and for-profit businesses to create newsletters, magazines, websites, physical products and more. Hannah has also worked with and raised awareness regarding the plight of the formerly incarcerated through her nonprofit work.
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Joseph Gans is the owner of Au Peche Mignon, a French Pastry Shop in North Florida. As a small business owner Joseph has had the pleasure of employing and working alongside people in all walks of life. From locals looking for their first jobs, to refugees and the formerly incarcerated. He has been dedicated to both his craft and the Tallahassee community for over 20 years.
Micah McCreary is the President and John Henry Livingston Professor of Theology at New Brunswick Theological Seminar in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Michigan; a Master of Divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University; and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a licensed clinical psychologist and NCC AP National Certified Master Addiction Counselor. He was ordained by the American Baptist Church, received by the Reformed Church of America, and installed as a RCA General Synod Professor of Theology. Rev. Dr. McCreary is the author of the book Trauma and Race, as well as numerous articles, book chapters, and blogs.
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Carey C. Newman is the executive editor at Fortress Press. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from the University of South Florida; the Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; a Master of Theology from the University of Aberdeen; and a Doctor of Philosophy from Baylor University. He has held teaching positions at Palm Beach Atlantic University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary as well as being an editor at Westminster John Knox Press and the director at Baylor University Press. He is the author of two books--Paul's Glory-Christology and Mango Tree.
Machelle Madsen Thompson is a research and teaching faculty member at Florida State University with expertise in trauma, resilience, and child welfare. She worked in a children's hospital with those experiencing abuse. She earned her Ph.D. from the FSU College of Social Work with an Educational Psychology Statistics Measurement certification. She is a U.S. Fulbright Scholar, 2018, a liftime member of the American Professional Society, and a board member of the International Academy of Violence and Abuse.
Lisa Blackwell is a professional writer, editor, and writing coach. After finishing her doctoral coursework in historical linguistics, she spent nearly a decade in software, which allowed her to travel the world and write during layovers in foreign airports. As an editor with Draft Works, she specializes in developmental editing for fiction, book design, and research. She is represented by Elizabeth Copps at Copps Literary Services.
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