Alex Busansky & Aishatu R. Yusuf In-Store Discussing EATING BEHIND BARS

Join us at Mrs. Dalloway's Bookstore on Thursday, January 15 when Alex Busansky and Aishatu R. Yusuf come to discuss their new book Eating Behind Bars: Ending the Hidden Punishment of Food in Prison. They will be joined in conversation by Keith Wattley and will sign copies of their book after the presentation.

Click here to order a copy of Eating Behind Bars.

A vivid exploration of the food crisis affecting millions of incarcerated Americans, Eating Behind Bars sheds new light on the power—and peril—of what’s on our plates.

“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.

ALEX BUSANSKY has spent the entirety of his career championing justice, working within existing legal systems, leading nonprofit organizations, and spearheading creative interventions that expand opportunity for system-impacted people. He is founder and president of Impact Justice and a Board member of the Ms. Foundation. He lives in Berkeley, California with his family.

DR. AISHUTU 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.

KEITH WATTLEY has been advocating for the rights of people in prison and on parole for more than 25 years. As the Founder and Executive Director of UnCommon Law, he has focused on helping people transform their lives and demonstrate to the parole board that they can safely be released from their life sentences, and has trained hundreds of lawyers, law students and others in advocating for the rights of incarcerated people. Keith is an Obama Foundation Fellow, and a recipient of the James Irvine Foundation's Leadership Award.

THIS EVENT is free but registration is requested. Registration ends at 6:00 pm on January 15.

BECAUSE SEATING is limited, please register only if you plan to attend.

DUE TO SPACE limitations, we may not be able to accommodate every person at an event, so early registration is encouraged.

WALK-INS will be accommodated only if space allows.

WE ASK that attendees arrive between 6:45 and 7:00 PM for the event.

PLEASE leave your non-support companion animals at home.

OUR shared restrooms are not accessible after 6:30 PM, please plan accordingly.