Jimmy Flynn is the kind of person who shows up with his hands, his heart, and his whole self. As a Library Production Associate at Freedom Reads, Jimmy works in the shop each day transforming raw wood slabs into the finished Freedom Libraries that bring powerful books to incarcerated readers. It's skilled, meaningful work, and what fuels him most is the moment those libraries are received. "Seeing the smiles of those on the inside, the joy and excitement they express from being gifted with libraries," he says, is what he enjoys most.
Jimmy's commitment to community extends well beyond Freedom Reads. He founded his own nonprofit, The Flynn Project Fair Haven Matters, dedicated to revitalizing parks in New Haven's Fair Haven neighborhood. He also volunteers with CCAR and New Haven Rising, and personally mentors people in halfway houses, taking them out for meals and serving as an ally as they rebuild their lives after incarceration.
When asked to share something about himself, Jimmy said it best: "I'm a husband first and foremost. Voracious reader, love math, and grateful to be FREE." Jimmy Flynn is a builder in every sense of the word, of libraries, of community, and of hope.