Kamilah with her son Jeyson, almost six years old, after picking him up from school. Bronx, NY (2019)
“Every Thursday is a half-day at Jeyson’s school and it means I can’t work full-time because that cuts out a whole day of work.”
“I live with my son, who is 5. I was about 21 at the time of my arrest. I was released on my own recognizance, but the case still impeded my efforts to become a nurse. I was unlawfully dismissed from LaGuardia’s nursing program and my mental health suffered greatly during this time, but luckily, I got into WPA’s Justice Home program which has changed my life. It allowed me to use my voice and struggles to create the change I wanted to see. I started out with my first speech at City Hall and now I’m an associate producer at a high-tech company. It’s important to rehabilitate folks that suffer from factors related to criminogenic risk. Taking punitive measures only exacerbates the unfortunate circumstances.”
Kamilah at home. Morris Park, Bronx, NY (2019)
Kamilah going to visit her maternal grandmother. Soundview, Bronx, NY (2019)
“I grew up with my maternal grandparents, my mother, my uncle, and his son. We all lived in the same household.”
Bookshelf at her grandmother’s home. Bronx, NY (2019)
“My mom stayed home with me when I was young and I was reading by the time I was two-and-a-half. I do think highly of books and I just recently got a bookshelf at my home. It’s almost full.”
Kamilah at work at a high-tech company, where, after being a paid intern for six months, she was given a six-month contract as an associate producer. New York, NY (2019)
“Even though I have the skills and tools necessary to be successful in the corporate world, there are still a lot of barriers, like having lack of access to resources. I’m a single parent, I’m pregnant, and my commute is difficult every day. Are my problems that unique? Do most people have a better support system than me?”
Childhood photo. Bronx, NY (2019)
The streets of the Bronx near Kamilah’s childhood home. Bronx, NY (2019)
“I’m starting to see signs of gentrification. There’s a lot less affordable housing.”
