Fund the continuation of our critical work, allowing us to advance key initiatives that make visible the profound human impact of incarceration on Rikers Island.
Rikers Island has long stood as a symbol of harm, isolation, and injustice. But behind every statistic are human stories—stories of loss, resilience, survival, and hope. At the Rikers Public Memory Project, we believe those stories must be safeguarded, shared, and honored as we work toward a future when the jails on Rikers are closed.
This spring, we need to reach an important goal to advance our mission: raise $3,500 by June 30th through 100 gifts of at least $35. Every contribution directly supports our work to make visible the profound human impact of incarceration.
Your donation will help us:
Advance development of the Rikers Memorial Quilt, a growing tribute that bears witness to experiences, memories, and entire lives lost to state violence and incarceration
Support one of our incoming Narrative Change Fellows to nurture the creative practice of someone who has been directly impacted by Rikers Island
Continue building a living archive that challenges systems of harm and imagines what comes next
The path to a Rikers-free future is paved by the stories we safeguard.
We invite you to become a Story Keeper. Make a gift today—and then share this campaign with at least five people in your network. Collective action is how we build momentum, shift narratives, and move toward lasting change.
Give $35 or more today. Help us reach 100 donors by June 30th.
Together, we can honor these stories—and help write a future beyond Rikers.
Contributors to the Rikers Public Memory Project gather to celebrate the archive's induction into the New York Public Library's Special Collections. (Photo by RPMP)
Visitors walk through the Rikers Public Memory Project's February 2025 Exhibition at the Weeksville Heritage Center, Torture Island: Past, Present, Future. Upcoming iterations of the exhibition will include programs centered on the memorial quilt project. (Photo by Jamie Rosenberg) The 2025-26 Narrative Change Fellows attend a workshop on video interview skills with Echoes of Incarceration. (Photo by RPMP)
Rewards
Featured
Story Keeper
Donate $35.00 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
Our suggested minimum donation goes towards the maintenance of our public programs and archive.
Insider
Donate $100.00 or more
Amount over $10.00 is tax-deductible.
Helps bring artists, filmmakers, and audiences together. As a thank you, you will receive...
An invitation to an intimate reception at an upcoming exhibition
Producer
Donate $200.00 or more
Amount over $10.00 is tax-deductible.
Expands public programs and artist engagement. As a thank you, you will receive...
Recognition in event materials and donor listings
All Insider benefits
Sustainer
Donate $350.00 or more
Amount over $10.00 is tax-deductible.
Provide direct support to the Narrative Change Fellowship program by covering advisor consulting fees. As a thank you, you will receive…
An invitation to the next Works in Progress meeting for the 2027 Fellowship class
All Producer benefits
Weaver
Donate $500.00 or more
Amount over $10.00 is tax-deductible.
Directly sustains our work to expand the public narrative about Rikers's legacy. As a thank you, you will receive…
A reserved square for you or your organization to contribute to the forthcoming Memorial Quilt project
All Contributor benefits
Visionary
Donate $1,000.00 or more
Amount over $250.00 is tax-deductible.
Partial sponsorship for one Narrative Change Fellow’s stipend. As a thank you, you will receive…
A custom consultation to discuss personal archiving, public memory, or classroom engagement with you or your organization, led by RPMP staff
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