TICKETS
General: $10
Member: FREE, RSVP Required
This program is supported by the Friends of the Fund for Community & Education at The Church
From newsroom to jail. Andrew Visconti’s fascinating journey started in journalism and evolved into a memoir writing program for incarcerated individuals. Join us for this very special Knowledge Friday in which Visconti talks about the experience he gained working with inmates. Since 2023, he has led workshops that foster personal growth behind bars and uses storytelling to guide transformation among the incarcerated population.
April is National Second Chance Awareness Month, which aims to reduce recidivism and highlights the barriers to reintegration that formerly incarcerated individuals face. With this in mind, this program intends to shine a light on the power of support and community in the walk toward rehabilitative justice.
ABOUT ANDREW VISCONTI
Andrew Visconti has maintained a deep connection to East Hampton since 1995 and became a full-time resident nearly a decade ago. A lifelong professional journalist, he built his career covering current events and breaking news, developing a keen understanding of the human stories behind the headlines.
In 2018, as the media landscape shifted, Visconti redirected his focus from journalism to creative writing. He launched a memoir-writing program at the East Hampton Library, creating a space where participants could explore personal history, identity, and voice. The program gained remarkable traction—especially during the Covid-19 pandemic—when virtual Zoom sessions offered connection, reflection, and emotional support during a time of widespread isolation.
In 2021, Visconti expanded this work into the criminal-justice system, designing a memoir-writing initiative tailored to incarcerated individuals. For the past three years, he has served weekly as a service provider at a prison on Long Island. Through guided writing workshops, he helps inmates examine their life experiences, process trauma, and articulate personal growth.
Visconti often describes the impact of this work by saying, “Memoir writing in jail is like group therapy without a therapist in the room.” The program’s results have been powerful—fostering introspection, dignity, and transformation through the written word.
Photo by Randee Daddona