COIPI envisions the children of incarcerated parents reaching their highest level of development, free from the burden of parental absence.
Feel the Bars, Fill the Gap

Feel the Bars, Fill the Gap

We conducted an interactive storytelling project that invited participants to step into the lives of children with incarcerated parents. Through semi-true stories, they imagined themselves in key roles—such as a child’s teacher, neighbor, or another influential figure—experiencing firsthand the challenges these children face.

During one session, a participant suddenly confronted our moderator, Hamed Farmand, President of COIPI, exclaiming:

“Why did you do this to us? Why should I play this role? Why should I be in this position?”

We paused the program, creating space for her to share her emotions. Later, she admitted that she had never truly considered the experiences of these children and felt ashamed for not being a more responsive community member. This moment captured the essence of our project’s mission: raising awareness, shedding light on the lives of children of incarcerated parents, and fostering empathy.

Breaking the Invisible Barrier: The Empathy Gap

When a parent or caregiver is incarcerated, their children are not only physically separated from them by prison bars but also by an invisible barrier—the empathy gap. This gap represents the lack of awareness and concern from the broader community, including educators, healthcare professionals, policymakers, religious groups, and service providers whose actions impact these children’s lives.

To bridge this divide, we must first recognize these children. Storytelling connects their realities to ours, humanizing their experiences. Interactive storytelling goes a step further, engaging participants in active roles, allowing them to truly feel the weight of these children’s circumstances. Art serves as a powerful tool in this process, enabling participants to visualize and internalize these experiences while understanding how their actions can help close the empathy gap.

Interactive Dialogue to Build an Empathy Bridge

This project invites audiences to engage with stories, reflect on them, and actively participate in closing the empathy gap. Designed as an informal educational platform, it introduces the general public to the realities faced by children of incarcerated parents at various stages of their lives.

Participants experience how their contributions gradually help “fill the gap,” a symbolic representation of the empathy deficit. In addition to storytelling, they gain access to guidelines and educational materials that deepen their understanding. As we expand our advocacy and awareness efforts, engaged participants can take further action—whether by supporting our programs, amplifying the voices of these children, or contributing in meaningful ways.

The project is collaborative at every stage, from preparation to implementation, ensuring that all participants—including us—contribute knowledge, perspective, and action.

Bringing the Experience to Life

In 2018, Hamed Farmand presented this project at an event hosted by Studio Pause, an arts organization in Arlington, Virginia, in celebration of their fifth anniversary. The event, titled “Baked Clay-Endless Sky: Celebrating Five Years of Pause,” was held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington.

Later that year, Hamed collaborated with Sushmita Mazumdar, founder of Studio Pause, and other studio members to present his artwork at the Women and Gender Studies Annual Conference: Politics of Gender and Justice—The Intersection of Identity and Discipline at George Mason University. Their workshop, “Baked Clay-Endless Sky: Time and Space for Creativity and Community,” explored how storytelling and art can create dialogue and inspire change.

Through this project, we continue to raise awareness, build connections, and inspire action—ensuring that the voices of children with incarcerated parents are not just heard, but truly understood.