A fellowship for creative narrative shift led by those directly impacted by Rikers Island.
Photo by Jamie Rosenberg
Photo by Jamie Rosenberg
Photo by Jamie Rosenberg
Photo by Weeksville Heritage Center
Photo by Echoes of Incarceration
Why This Fellowship Matters
Over the years, RPMP has worked with interns and fellows to create short films, podcasts, and written materials that have helped to make the oral history collection accessible to the wider community. Last year, we launched the Narrative Change Fellowship to invest in the creativity and expertise of those who have been directly impacted by Rikers.
Five Narrative Change Fellows will receive $4000 to produce a creative project to shift narratives about Rikers and communities impacted by incarceration in New York City.
The fellows will use the RPMP Oral History Collection as source material.
Each Project Will Focus on One or More of Our Goals
Public Education
Educating all New Yorkers about Rikers Island as a site of trauma for communities across NYC.
Advocacy
Hold elected officials and community leaders accountable for closing Rikers and rebuilding directly impacted communities.
Community Healing
Recognize incarcerated people as human beings, as neighbors, and as fellow New Yorkers.
Fellowship Timeline
Fellows will begin their projects on July 1, 2025, and complete by March 1, 2026. A final culminating event will be held at the close of the fellowship program to present their projects to the RPMP community by the end of March.
Budget
$4000 for the fellowship, including materials.
Application Deadline
Fellowship applications are due by May 30th, 2025. Selected applicants will be invited to interview in late May and early June.
What Fellows Will Do
Monthly Cohort Meetings
Fellows will attend a monthly meeting with RPMP staff to share updates on their projects, participate in trainings with a range of experts and thought leaders, and receive support on the development of their projects.
Advisor Support
Fellows will receive additional support from RPMP staff and advisors in shaping their projects. Advisors will work with the fellows to set regular one-on-one meetings, set project milestones and deadlines, and receive deliverables to ensure timely completion of the project.
Independent Work on Creative Project
Aside from meeting time, fellows have the flexibility to work on their projects when and where works best for them. Projects can also be in any form, from writing, to visual art, to performance.
Budget Creation
Fellows will draft, finalize, and maintain a budget throughout the course of their project with support from their Advisor and the RPMP team.
Final Presentation Event
Each of the fellows will present their completed works in a co-created public program. Following the program, all completed projects will be included in the RPMP Digital Archive and may be utilized in future RPMP programming, such as the multimedia Mobile Exhibit.
Who is eligible for the fellowship?
Must be formerly incarcerated on Rikers or have had a loved one who was incarcerated on Rikers Island.
Can attend monthly virtual meetings. Dates and times will be determined by fellows’ availability.
Can attend monthly virtual one-on-one meetings with an RPMP staff member.
Able to set a project scope and complete it in the fellowship term.
Application Instructions
Please fill out the application form by May 30, 2025. The application has three sections:
Identifying Information: Here you will provide your name, contact information, and a brief bio to tell us more about yourself and your background.
Project Proposal: Submit a brief description (800 words max) of your project idea. This may include the art form or medium you want to use or a theme you want to explore and how you will use the RPMP Oral History Archive in your project.
Attachments (optional): You have the option to include attachments in your application that may tell us more about yourself and your vision for the project. Attachments may include a resume, sketches or brainstorming documents of your project, or examples of previous work. You may include up to 5 attachments. Attachments are not required to submit a complete application.
As you develop your project proposal we encourage you to look at our website and social media channels to see how we’ve used video and audio to share the oral history collection in the past.
Past Fellows & Projects
Anisah Sabur Mumin
Ofia Begum Ali
Michele Evans
Helen “Skip” Skipper
Project Design Workshops
Two project design workshops will be hosted during the application window. These are interactive sessions where you can get your questions answered about the fellowship and participate in some hands-on activities to help you refine your project idea.
Office Hours
For a limited time, you can schedule an office hours appointment with RPMP staff and former fellows to get support thinking through your ideas and get feedback on your application. Office hours appointments are subject to availability and first come, first served.