ABOLITIONIST SPACES
The Abolitionist Spaces project engages youth and adults in assessing and re-imagining our built environments to be more inclusive. In particular, the project focuses on transforming public spaces to better address the needs of people impacted by the criminal justice system and immigration law.
NEW ORLEANS
Partners and Collaborators: Art for Justice, Project Butterfly, Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI), Voice of the Experienced (V.O.T.E.), Friends and Families of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC)
Project Budget $150,000
Size: City-wide
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2024 - Present
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02 Cease Implementation of Hostile Design
03 Abolist Carceral Spaces
04 Restructure Relationship to Power + Capital
If you or your organization is interested in being a part of the Abolitionist Spaces Project, email amina@colloqate.org and cc. collaborate@colloqate.org
The Abolitionist Spaces Project is a community-engaged initiative that encourages participants to reimagine the built environment through the lens of justice, equity, and inclusion. Through photovoice workshops and one-day sessions, the project engages young people, adults who have experienced system-involvement, and organizers in learning about design justice principles. Participants are able to share their personal experiences and creative insights through photographs, storytelling, memory, and dialogue. Together, these contributions allow us to generate actionable ideas for redesigning communities in ways that promote safety, dignity, and joy. Additionally, the project conducts interviews with organizers and formerly incarcerated individuals, amplifying their voices and highlighting the work of local advocacy organizations dedicated to transformative justice.
The project will culminate in a digital publication showcasing participants’ photographs, reflections, and ideas alongside a resource guide for those interested in abolitionist advocacy and design. This final collection will serve as both an archive of radical imagination and a practical tool for those looking to transform their own communities. The response to the project has been positive and exciting, and participants have demonstrated remarkable creativity and critical thinking in envisioning safer and more inclusive communities. The Abolitionist Spaces Project engages the power of collective imagination, connecting community engagement and design justice in ways that can drive meaningful social change.