A monthly book club at the M. Allan Vogelson Camden County Library branch in Voorhees draws a diverse crowd to not only discuss books, but offer first-hand, historical, political and other perspectives on incarceration and post-incarceration reentry.
“To be able to use a classic library program like a book club … to talk about issues of mass incarceration, re-entry, civil rights and related topics, that just seemed like a natural fit for us,” said Julie Tozer, manager of the Nilsa I. Cruz-Perez downtown branch of the county library system, of the Community Re-entry Book Club.
Tozer leads the club in partnership with the county’s re-entry efforts and works with Sharon Bean, Jail Population Manager for the county. The aim is to discuss decreasing the county jail population, including through re-entry work that prevents recidivism.
Bean spoke about the importance of humanizing incarcerated individuals by remembering that “these are people, with lives, with families.”
County Commissioner Jonathan Young explained in an email that the club “is just one more way we can challenge the stigma surrounding the justice-impacted community, and (it) reflects our commitment to building a county where re-entry is not seen as a burden, but as an investment in human potential and the long‑term well-being of our entire community.”
The club is structured to be welcoming, without shame if someone doeasn’t finished a book between meetings. Attendees read parts of a title aloud to start a discussion.
Anyone can share thoughts or just listen, regardless of how much they read between meetings.
The Community Re-entry Book Club has met continuously since 2019, including virtual meetings during COVID. In 2025, the Vogel library earned the New Jersey Library Association’s Innovative Program Award in recognition of the club.
Nine attendees gathered on June 10 to begin discussing “These Walls: The Battle for Rikers Island and the Future of America’s Jails,” by Eva Fedderly. Starting with introductions, the conversation flowed easily without much facilitation by Tozer or Bean.
Attendees shared and responded to one another’s reflections on incarceration-related topics. The group members read book passages aloud and reflected on their meanings.
“I have learned so much,” noted Eva Black, a club member for nearly a year.
She had the opportunity in March to be at the opening of the county’s Re-entry Release Center, a hub for wrap-around re-entry services, including housing, health care, employment and peer support.
Another attendee, Dijon Johnson, bought his grandmother. He shared his appreciation of the book club as an in-person space to “contribute thoughts and advocate (and to) show up and bring my voice.”
At the club’s next meeting on Wednesday, July 8, at 7 p.m., the group will continue discussion of “These Walls.” All are welcome to join.
Pat Johnson listens as her grandson Dijon Johnson shares thoughts at the June 10 Community Reentry Book Club Meeting.
