EATING BEHIND BARS | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation
Date and Time
Oct 28, 2025 6:00 pm
Location
450K
450 K St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001
Oct 28, 2025 6:00 pm
450K
Join us to learn about the food crisis affecting millions of incarcerated Americans
"This eye-opening book will convince you that everyone--absolutely everyone--is deserving of nourishing food that affirms their humanity and dignity." -José Andrés, chef and humanitarian
Prisons and jails are America's hidden "food deserts," where hunger and malnourishment coexist with shocking levels of food waste because much of what is served is so awful it ends up in the trash. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are tense and humiliating when incarcerated people are forced to eat in silence, finish meals within minutes, and disciplined with food deliberately worse than the standard fare.
This disturbing portrait came to light in 2020 when the nonprofit Impact Justice released the first-ever national examination of food in prison, catapulting the issue from the margins of prison litigation to the center of national conversations about mass incarceration and food justice. This landmark book digs deeper, revealing a systemic drive to cut costs at the expense of health and decency. It is also a story of resistance and hope, chronicling how incarcerated people and their allies are fighting back, as well as exploring "farm to tray" programs, chef-led initiatives, and other ways to make food in prison a source of healing and bring dignity back to the table.
In collaboration with Impact Justice, co-author Leslie Soble, Daniel Rosen, and Heile Gantan-Keo are joining us on the Busboys stage to shed new light on the power--and peril--of what's on our plates. The panel will be moderated by co-author Dr. Aishatu R. Yusuf. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and the co-authors present will be signing following the program.
This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of EATING BEHIND BARS will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books
Leslie Soble, an ethnographer and folklorist who specializes in food and foodways, is an internationally recognized voice on the carceral eating experience. In addition to leading the Food in Prison Project at Impact Justice, she is founder and artistic director of Story Soup, which facilitates dialogue across cultures and generations through food. She lives in Washington, DC.
Daniel Rosen is a justice reform advocate and writer who was incarcerated in both Virginia and Washington, D.C. from 2015 to 2021. He is the Co-Founder and Director of Advocacy & Partnerships for the Coalition for Carceral Nutrition. Before co-founding the Coalition for Carceral Nutrition, he was an advocate with Worth Rises, a nonprofit working to dismantle the prison industry and end the exploitation of those it affects. Prior to incarceration, Daniel spent almost twenty years in public service, in both the non-profit and governmental sectors. He has been recognized throughout his career for successful management of programs, people, and funds to serve the public trust. Daniel holds a Master’s degree from Tufts University, and a B.A. with Honors from UCLA. He resides in Washington, D.C.
Heile Gantan-Keo is a Program Manager with the Food in Prison Project. Her background in nutrition, public policy, and lived experience with the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation motivates her work to improve the provision of essential resources throughout jails and prisons. She works closely with other nonprofit, civic, and state organizations in her advocacy efforts to support those impacted by the criminal justice system.
Dr. Aishatu R. Yusuf is a recognized change-maker with expertise in the systemic barriers that keep individuals and communities from reaching their potential. As Vice President of Innovation Programs at Impact Justice, she oversees a portfolio of transformational projects that tackle complex social problems from an intersectional perspective. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband and dog, Aiko.
IMPACT JUSTICE
Operating nationally, the nonprofit Impact Justice is known for its bold ideas and boundary-breaking programs that challenge America’s obsession with endless punishment.
THE NEW PRESS
Founded in 1992, The New Press is a not-for-profit book publisher with a public-interest mission. New Press books explore the issues that affect us all; its authors provide ideas and inspiration for the activists, teachers, policymakers, and everyday citizens who are working to defend and promote democracy. The New Press does its work with the help of its many supporters; please visit them at thenewpress.com or follow them on social media to find out more.
BOOK DETAILS
Eating Behind Bars
Ending the Hidden Punishment of Food in Prison
By Leslie Soble, Alex Busansky, Aishatu R. Yusuf, and Impact Justice
October 28, 2025 | Paperback, 256 pages, $20.99
