CAA To Host Evening of Music & Stories Supporting Beyond Bars Prison Outreach Program

A song can tell a story, build a bridge and give voice to those who might otherwise go unheard. On Wednesday, October 21 at Distillery 98 from 5-8 p.m, the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) will celebrate that impact with The Power of a Song: An Evening of Music & Stories, a special fundraising event benefiting  Beyond Bars, the songwriting education arm of the CAA’s Prison Arts Program. 

Through Beyond Bars, professional singer-songwriters work within Walton Correctional Institution (WCI), a state prison in DeFuniak Springs, FL,  to lead two-week-long songwriting courses that give incarcerated individuals a meaningful outlet for creativity, self-expression and reflection. Participants learn the craft of songwriting while exploring their own experiences and developing the confidence to share their stories through music.

This inaugural fundraising event will feature Nashville-based singer-songwriters Sammi Accola, Anna Grace Borné, David Borné and Caitlin Cannon—all Beyond Bars instructors who have also performed and gained a following at the CAA’s 30A Songwriters Festival.  Through original songs, personal stories and powerful performances, the evening will shine a light on the human stories behind the music—and help ensure this important program can continue. Event admission is by donation, and guests can RSVP at CulturalArtsAlliance.com/upcoming-events and make a gift online or at the event. 

At the heart of the evening will be performances of the  original songs written by men who have participated in Beyond Bars, offering guests a glimpse into the creative work and personal storytelling taking place inside WCI and sharing stories that exemplify the rehabilitative potential of songwriting.

For the four featured artists and program instructors, the program and evening is especially meaningful. Their experience as both professional songwriters  and instructors allows them to help participants discover the power of their own voices.

“I’m amazed by what Beyond Bars has become, largely because of the courage and vulnerability of the incarcerated songwriters who have shown up and helped us shape it into something genuinely useful,” said Caitlin Cannon, lead instructor and creator of the Beyond Bars curriculum. “I’m most moved when they tell us the work has helped them build inner resources—to meet conflict with inquiry and self-responsibility instead of harm. I learn so much from them.”

Since the program’s inception, Beyond Bars has reached nearly 300 participants through 12 songwriting workshops, resulting in more than 100 original songs. The program, which has been supported by the Jacarlene Foundation, Alys Foundation, and National Endowment for the Arts, has become an important initiative of the CAA’s Prison Arts Program at WCI, which also includes  Visual Arts courses.

“Beyond Bars truly demonstrates the transformative power of the arts, and the works that result from these sessions remind us that every person has a story to tell and a creative voice worth hearing,” said Jennifer Steele, President & CEO of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County. “We know this work changes lives, but meaningful impact requires sustained commitment, and we are at a critical point where continued funding is essential to ensure these opportunities remain available. We are deeply grateful to the artists, partners and supporters who believe in this work and help make it possible.”

Join the CAA for The Power of a Song

The Power of a Song will take place Wednesday, October 21, at Distillery 98, 835 Serenoa Rd., Santa Rosa Beach, with cocktail hour from 5–6 p.m. and the program from 6–8 p.m.

There is no set ticket price for admission. Guests are invited to make a donation at a level that feels comfortable, either online or at the event. All proceeds will support the 2026–27 Beyond Bars program at Walton Correctional Institution.

Distillery 98’s bar will be open with cocktails, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Salty Butcher will offer pasta, charcuterie plates and sandwiches for purchase.

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o learn more or make a donation, visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com/donate.

Come experience the power of a song—and help ensure more voices have the opportunity to be heard.