“Free Dem Foundation” was founded in 2017 by exonerees Jerome Morgan and Robert Jones, two New Orleans natives who each spent decades in Angola Prison for crimes they did not commit. Raised in neighborhoods plagued by poverty and violence, they made a powerful promise to one another while wrongfully incarcerated: If freed, they would “help young people overcome the same struggles they faced—growing up with few opportunities, surrounded by crime, violence, and a system set up to fail them.”

After their exoneration—Jones after 23.5 years, and Morgan after 20 for crimes they didn’t commit—they kept that promise and launched Free Dem Foundation, shortly after their release, a youth-focused nonprofit committed to building stronger communities and supporting young people during the critical transition from childhood to adulthood.

The organization has made a tremendous impact across New Orleans—providing mentoring, skills training, school presentations, workshops, and community events, while partnering with local organizations to support youth and advocate for change.

In August of 2025 theFree Dem Foundations has rebranded as Freed’em—expanding our mission to amplify the voices and experiences of more exonerees. 

Freed’em is more than an organization—it’s a movement led by those who have survived the unimaginable and emerged with purpose. We are reclaiming our stories, rebuilding our lives, and reimagining justice—together.