Fania Muthia

The United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world. Among the victims of the American incarceration epidemic are children. In 2021, in New York City alone, 19 percent of public high school students reported having incarcerated parents. The absence of parents from their households can be a source of instability and trauma for these children, which may have negative long-term consequences for their well-being. My project is designed to offer such children a haven and supportive space. The space includes overlapping environments—an open-play garden, a Zen garden, a classroom, and sleeping cocoons—designated Reflection, Ingenuity, and Support & Solace. Support is provided by trauma professionals and specialists, and visitors have the chance to meet others in similar situations, helping them realize that they are not alone.