{Kite}: prison parlance for letters
Our journey is a story to tell…
…
Programs
THE KITE @ City College
Rikers Island and Various Youth Detention Centers
In-person workshops Inside Rikers Island
MFA Style Writing Workshops with Columbia MFA Graduates
Cultural Critique and Journalism Classes
Typed Writing done for all handwritten manuscripts done in class
Community Writing Workshops
Adult Writing Workshops hosted with Columbia’s Incarcerated Writer’s Initiative
Youth and YA Virtual Writing Workshops
PAID Internship Program
Journalism and Podcasting
Job Conditioning: On-the-job training with small businesses
Personal Brand Marketing
UNICEF COHORTS
Collaborative Apprenticeships focusing on sustainable goals of fair education, climate change, and social justice.
College Immersion
Students interested in pursuing or learning about college attend immersive workshops with college students, professors, and advisors. Those who wish to enroll receive help with:
FAFSA Application (with both parent + Student)
Documentation Corralling
College Application Process
Scholarship + Grant Application Process
Course + Major Selection Mentoring
MAP LEAGUE
The Kite’s basketball team was smashing it on the court in the 2020 MAP League. But then Covid…
Writing is freedom…
“We write to contemplate on what we’ve been through because it sharpens our focus on where we’d like to go.”—-Gigi Blanchard, ED
There is healing in sharing our stories. We strive to create safe spaces on the inside where students can open up about the painful things that are often bottled up until they explode. Listening is a significant part of our job.
Our re-entry efforts include a networking behind bars series where we bring professionals to talk to students about how they broke into their fields. Mentorships created behind bars continue once the students return to the community.
3K +
Over 3K books donated
With the community’s help, we’ve brought thousands of novels, memoirs, YA, poetry and self-help books to our people on lockdown.
2K+
2k + Journals Donated
The average commissary sells notebooks for triple the price. All students receive a journal so that they can use their $ to buy sustenance for the body while we provide sustenance for the mind.
7K+
New York’s Daily Jail Pop
Combined with hundreds more youth in the various detention centers. We have a lot of work to do!
Impacted by the justice system?
Submit Writing
We would love to hear your stories whether you’ve been incarcerated, worked in the system or are related to someone involved. Send work to thekitezine@gmail.com.
OPEN-MICS
Are you a musician, DJ, MC, Storyteller or spoken word artist? We invite pros to perform along side our student and to attend classes throughout the critique process. Hit us up! thekitezine@gmail.com
“
October 2017
In jail, people like to use your past against you but there’s healing power in sharing our truths. Nobody can use what I went through as a weapon now. -T.S. on Rikers Island
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Volunteer opportunities
From typing stories to building them, we can use your help!
Make a Donation
We cannot make this ripple a wave without you!