Project Mend
Project Mend is a multimodal, grassroots, open-access national archive centered on the creative and intellectual work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals and their communities. Through publishing, storytelling, and collaborative media production, Project Mend creates space for voices too often excluded from public discourse. Based in Syracuse, New York, the initiative also offers a digital media publishing apprenticeship for formerly incarcerated people and their families. Apprentices gain hands-on experience in editing, design, audio production, and digital publishing while participating in critical conversations about the ongoing crisis of mass incarceration and its impact on individuals, families, and communities.
Core Components
Mend Journal
An annual open-access publication, Mend celebrates the lives and creative work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people as well as individuals who have been impacted by the criminal justice system.
An annual open-access publication, Mend celebrates the lives and creative work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people as well as individuals who have been impacted by the criminal justice system.
Mend Fences (Podcast Series)
Mend Fences extends the work of the journal through conversation. In this podcast series, editors and collaborators reflect on themes emerging from Mend and the broader Project Mend archive, using dialogue and storytelling to deepen engagement with issues of incarceration, justice, and creative expression.
Mend Fences extends the work of the journal through conversation. In this podcast series, editors and collaborators reflect on themes emerging from Mend and the broader Project Mend archive, using dialogue and storytelling to deepen engagement with issues of incarceration, justice, and creative expression.
Special Issues and Collaborative Publications
Project Mend supports the development of special issues and affiliated publications. One example is render, created by Writing and Rhetoric graduate Katherine Nikolau, which highlights the creative work and activism of justice-impacted artists.
Project Mend supports the development of special issues and affiliated publications. One example is render, created by Writing and Rhetoric graduate Katherine Nikolau, which highlights the creative work and activism of justice-impacted artists.
Films and Video
Project Mend supports the production of films and videos that extend conversation in the issue.
Project Mend supports the production of films and videos that extend conversation in the issue.
Apprenticeship Program
At the heart of Project Mend is its apprenticeship model, which provides training in digital publishing and media production. Apprentices work collaboratively on journal production, podcasting, and archival projects while developing professional skills.
At the heart of Project Mend is its apprenticeship model, which provides training in digital publishing and media production. Apprentices work collaboratively on journal production, podcasting, and archival projects while developing professional skills.
