{"id":81280,"date":"2025-12-01T11:58:48","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T16:58:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?p=81280"},"modified":"2025-12-01T11:58:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T16:58:50","slug":"christine-calabrese-embossed-book-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/christine-calabrese-embossed-book-club\/","title":{"rendered":"Her Club Gets Books into Prisons"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='storyblock storyblock-wider'>\r\n<div id=\"block_5827a56d7020d6090697eaf9ac57c18e\"\r\n    class=\"block-standout-header text-image aspect-1-1 \">\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"standout-header-inner none\">\r\n        <div class=\"standout-header-image\">\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Christine-Calabrese.jpg\" alt=\"Christine Calabrese EmBOSSed Book Club\"\r\n                    class=\"img-fluid\" \/>\r\n                                    <p class=\"caption\">hristine Calabrese, founder of EmBOSSed Book Club. (Credit: Courtesy of EmBOSSed Book Club)<\/p>\r\n                                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n        <div class=\"standout-header-text\">\r\n                            <div class='logo'>\r\n                                            <a class=\"thousandStoriesLogo\" href=\"\/stories\/\">\r\n                            1,000 Stories\r\n                        <\/a>\r\n                                    <\/div>\r\n            \r\n                            <h1 class=\"entry-title\">Her Club Gets Books into Prisons<\/h1>\r\n            \r\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Christine Calabrese\u2019s EmBOSSed Book Club delivers self-development books to incarcerated readers. <\/span><\/p>\n\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"entry-meta\">\r\n                <time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-12-01T16:58:48+00:00\">December 1, 2025<\/time>\r\n\r\n                                                    <div class=\"author-meta\">\r\n                        <div class=\"author_thumbnail\">\r\n                                                                                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/userphoto\/96.jpg\" alt=\"Victoria Flexner\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"photo\" \/>\r\n                                                    <\/div>\r\n                        <span>\r\n                            <span class='by'>By <\/span>\r\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/author\/vic\" title=\"Visit Victoria Flexner&#8217;s website\" rel=\"author external\">Victoria Flexner<\/a>\r\n                        <\/span>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n    #block_5827a56d7020d6090697eaf9ac57c18e.block-standout-header {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_5827a56d7020d6090697eaf9ac57c18e.block-standout-header 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}\r\n<\/style><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>When Christine Calabrese worked as a correctional officer at a men\u2019s prison in Buckeye, Arizona, she saw firsthand how stagnant and mundane prison life could be. Calabrese noticed that inmates were often bored, and more likely to get into trouble simply because they lacked engaging, positive activities. This past year, Calabrese decided to leave her post at the prison and start-up <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/embossedbookclub.org\/\"><strong>EmBOSSed Book Club<\/strong><\/a><strong>, to offer incarcerated men and women a more meaningful and constructive way to spend their time. Her book box subscriptions focus mainly on <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/tag\/education-training\/\"><strong>self-development literature<\/strong><\/a><strong>, and for every book box purchased by a customer, a matching set is donated to someone in prison. Calabrese is working to spread the word about EmBOSSed far and wide, with the goal of bringing books to prisons across the country.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Here&#8217;s our lightly edited Q&amp;A, from<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/stories\/\"><em> <\/em><em>The Story Exchange 1,000+ Stories Project<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-is-your-business-different-from-others-in-your-industry\"><strong>How is your business different from others in your industry?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We are a for-profit\/nonprofit: Our book box subscription is designed to deliver a book to someone in prison that matches the same book a subscriber purchased for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tell-us-about-your-biggest-success-so-far-nbsp\"><strong>Tell us about your biggest success so far.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Capturing the attention of a major news network. This past October, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc15.com\/news\/local-news\/former-arizona-corrections-officer-leaves-post-to-launch-a-non-profit-book-club\">ABC affiliate<\/a> here in Arizona featured the book club in a story. Reporter Jordan Bontke interviewed me in service of sharing our mission with a wider audience. Seeing our story on the news was a huge milestone, and really helped us spread the word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-your-top-challenge-and-how-have-you-addressed-it\"><strong>What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Creating the right partnerships, which I address by focusing on building genuine connections and continually reaching out to people who can help me connect those dots. In the end, it&#8217;s all about staying persistent, because those connections help the book club thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-have-you-experienced-any-significant-personal-situations-that-have-affected-your-business-decisions\"><strong>Have you experienced any significant personal situations that have affected your business decisions?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I made the decision to leave my position as a correctional officer \u2013 an experience that really influenced how I approached my company, in that it taught me to align my business decisions with my personal values, as well as the real-life lessons I\u2019ve learned.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_2e88434d03664ad8367dbe82eb7ffdc4\" class=\"wp-block related-post alignwide\">\n      <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <div class=\"section-title\">\n      <h4>Related<\/h4>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n              <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/this-pan-african-nonprofit-helps-girls-finish-school-by-the-millions\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CAMFED-Schooling-Education-Girls-Africa-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"CAMFED Schooling Education Girls Africa\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CAMFED-Schooling-Education-Girls-Africa-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CAMFED-Schooling-Education-Girls-Africa-45x45.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"entry-text\">\n          <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/this-pan-african-nonprofit-helps-girls-finish-school-by-the-millions\/\">\n              This Pan-African Nonprofit Helps Girls Finish School \u2013 By the Millions\n            <\/a>\n          <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-your-biggest-tip-for-other-startup-entrepreneurs-nbsp\"><strong>What is your biggest tip for other startup entrepreneurs?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure your connections or entry points of sale are solid before you quit your job or make big investments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-you-find-inspiration-on-your-darkest-days\"><strong>How do you find inspiration on your darkest days?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I listen to inspirational videos daily.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_4363f25097e2110fe29f9c7e09d913ee\" class=\"wp-block related-post alignwide\">\n      <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <div class=\"section-title\">\n      <h4>Related<\/h4>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n              <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/kirsti-samuels-ks-insight\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Kirsti-5-e1761674046364-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Kristi Samuels KS Insight\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Kirsti-5-e1761674046364-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Kirsti-5-e1761674046364-45x45.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"entry-text\">\n          <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/kirsti-samuels-ks-insight\/\">\n              She Helps Leaders Navigate the Hard Stuff\n            <\/a>\n          <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-your-go-to-song-to-get-motivated-on-tough-days\"><strong>What is your go-to song to get motivated on tough days?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Anything high-energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-is-your-most-important-role-model-nbsp\"><strong>Who is your most important role model?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Zig Ziglar. He was a spectacular sales trainer, and his insights on motivation and personal growth have profoundly shaped the way I lead and inspire. His legacy of positivity and service is something I strive to embody every day in our mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Facebook: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/p\/Embossed-book-club-inc-61578041620983\/\">@EmbossedBookClub<\/a><br><strong>TikTok: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@embossed189\">@Embossed189<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/1uXS8gNDitjrMam5GdbvQAiiM89B-nxdSkJ97LWrLAlY\/viewform?edit_requested=true\">Share your story!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>C<em>heck out our<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/advice-tips-resources-for-women-entrepreneurs\/\"><em>\u00a0Advice + Tips for<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<em>entrepreneurs starting-up<br>Watch our latest<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/category\/entrepreneur-videos\/\"><em>\u00a0videos<br><\/em><\/a><em>Subscribe to our<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/podcast\/\"><em>\u00a0podcast<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Christine Calabrese\u2019s EmBOSSed Book Club delivers self-development books to incarcerated readers. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":81281,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"autoblue_enabled":true,"autoblue_custom_message":"Christine Calabrese\u2019s EmBOSSed Book Club delivers self-development books to incarcerated 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