Author: Nina Zahr
-
Student Perspectives on New Challenge
To date, more than 800 students have applied to New Challenge and more than 70 students have received funding. Teams are tackling a range of issues, including transitional employment for the formerly incarcerated, sustainable transportation, housing justice, physical…
-
New Challenge: Supporting Social Impact Entrepreneurs
New Challenge is a response to a changing world. The future of work, enterprise, and careers is being transformed by technology, globalization, and other factors. Young people are increasingly seeking to build careers with purpose and to make a positive social impact through their work…
-
Public Art: Beautifying Riverbank
“Beautifying Riverbank” was created by Groundswell in partnership with the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and NYC Department of Environmental Protection. The mural engages Riverbank State Park’s diverse visitors in a celebration of our local water…
-
Public Art: Metroorganism
“MetrOrganism” was designed for three cylindrical pillars in the Aspirations Diploma Plus High School library. Student artists developed imagery through observation of the immediate neighborhood and environment. They maintained notebooks of their personal reflections…
-
Public Art: Cyprus Hills Fights for Food Justice
“Cypress Hills Fights for Food Justice” is a compelling piece that addresses the issues of food justice in the Cypress Hills community. The mural informs the students of the dangers of sugar in their diets. It also depicts the work the community gardens in the area are doing to solve…
-
Public Art: Love is the Main Ingredient
“Love is the Main Ingredient / Amor es el Ingrediente Principal” was painted by Comunilife’s Life is Precious group, a suicide prevention group for young Latina women. The mural is housed in Comunilife’s kitchen. The concept of the mural developed from a thoughtful conversation…
-
Public Arts Project: Creating Community Driven Change Through Art
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), New York Council Housing Chair Ritchie Torres, and Groundswell present “Public Art / Public Housing,” a transformative mural project created in partnership with tenant associations at five NYCHA developments…
-
Our American Narrative Continues
Created for public display at Ellis Island, “Our American Narrative Continues” is a six-part mural panel series celebrating the rich history of immigration to the United States. As part of Groundswell’s Teen Empowerment Mural Apprenticeship (TEMA), Groundwell’s youth…
-
Respect is the Strongest Compliment
Brought to national attention with groups such as HollaBack! and Stop Street Harassment, street harassment affects the feeling of safety many women experience on the street. “The majority of women have been catcalled while walking the streets of NYC,” explained youth artist Eona…
-
I Just Want to Come Home
“I Just Want To Come Home” declares a new mural in Bushwick on a Food Bazaar Supermarket, painted by a team of young men considering the complex relationship between police and young men of color. As proven by recently publicized deaths and the #BlackLivesMatter activist movement…
-
Student Reflection: Michel Foucault and the Groupe D’information sur les Prisons
The following work is by students by students at Parsons Paris and it is part of the States of Incarceration’s exhibit in New York: Michel Foucault and the Groupe D’information sur les Prisons”. The collection of artifacts and imagery is a study on the person who began a global debate…
-
Podcast Series: What’s lost when a prison closes?
Below are a series of podcasts created by undergraduate students at Skidmore College, and is is part of the States of Incarceration’s exhibit in New York: “New York: Closing a Prison, Deferring a Dream”. The body of work is one of many that poses reflects on the question…
-
Artist Statement: Criminalize Brooklyn
The following artist statement by Imani Tudor, an undergraduate photography student at Parsons School of Design, is part of the States of Incarceration’s exhibit in New York: “New York: “Rikers Island, NY 11370: In Plain Sight”. The body of work is one of many that poses reflects…
-
Audio Visual Essay: A Day in the Life of the Rikers Island Bridge
The following audio visual essay, titles “A Day in the Life of the Rikers Island Bridge” was created by Darcy Bender (Visualization), Estefania Acosta (Audio), and Laura Sanchez (Audio). It is part of the States of Incarceration’s first exhibition in New York…
-
Photo Essay: Mr. Otis Johnson
The following body of work is the story of Otis Johnson and was written and photographed by Kari Bjorn. It is part of the States of Incarceration’s first exhibit in New York; “Rikers Island: NY 11370: In Plain Sight” which asks the question…
-
Podcast: States of Incarceration
States of Incarceration: The Podcast tells stories of the incarceration generation from 17 states around the country. The podcast travels from New York, NY, to Riverside, CA, and 18 other cities — to hear formerly incarcerated people, people who work in prisons, and people…
-
The Importance of Exhibitions
The States of Incarceration project is a traveling exhibition and series of events that bring together people across the country to share local stories and open dialogue on national criminal justice reform and immigrant detention…