Brooklyn Children’s Museum on Monday launched Haven: Reunification, a new bimonthly initiative that invites fathers incarcerated at Rikers Island to spend an afternoon reconnecting with their families at the museum.
Created in partnership with the New York City Department of Correction, and supported by a $160,000 two-year grant from the Social Justice Fund, the program will be held on days when the museum is closed to the public. The sessions provide a private, welcoming space for bonding, learning and play, with on-site supervision from the DOC.
"This partnership with the Brooklyn Children's Museum takes aim at the terrible toll incarceration can take on families," said DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie. "By providing a safe, comfortable, dignified, and most importantly, fun place for incarcerated parents to visit with their children, BCM and DOC will jointly strengthen family bonds while paving the way for successful, supportive community reentries."
Families can share meals, take part in art therapy workshops, read together and explore the museum’s interactive exhibits and activities designed to strengthen family relationships and build positive memories.
Each participating family also receives a complimentary museum membership, encouraging continued engagement throughout the year.
“Strong families are the fabric of thriving communities” said Gregg Bishop, executive director of the Social Justice Fund.
