Caged Dreams
Caged Dreams is a powerful storytelling initiative led by Detention Watch Network fellow Johannes Favi, centered on the lived experiences and mental health impacts of immigration detention. Through documentary film, protest visuals, and ongoing community tools, the project calls for the end of detention systems and greater access to care.
Issues
Storyboarding, Illustration, Animation, Video Editing, Illustration, Graphic Design, Website Design
Scope
Immigration, Detention, Human Rights, Migrant Rights, Abolition, Incarceration, Mental Health, Trauma
Documentary Storyboarding, Illustration & Animation
We collaborated with Johannes and DWN’s communications team to shape the visual narrative of the short documentary—from storyboarding and illustration style to final animations. Our approach balanced emotional depth with visual restraint, aligning with the seriousness of the subject matter and honoring the individuals whose stories are shared.
The documentary has since been screened at universities and college campuses nationwide as an educational tool and awareness campaign.
Protest Imagery for #FreeThemAll
Following the film’s release, we developed a suite of protest photos used in direct actions across the country as part of DWN’s #FreeThemAll movement. Each visual was designed to amplify public calls for abolition and spark critical dialogue about detention and liberation.
Website Design
We created a new digital home to reintroduce Caged Dreams as Healing Horizons, a mental health platform supporting people rebuilding their lives after displacement or family separation. The site brings together impact, program details, and clear ways to get involved in an easy-to-navigate, responsive, and accessible experience. Designed to support both participants and supporters, key features include an interactive dashboard and resource center that allow participants to track their 8-week healing journey and communicate with therapists.
Program Expansion & Mental Health Tool Development
We continue to partner with Johannes in expanding Caged Dreams into a mental health referral service—designing tools and materials to help formerly detained individuals access culturally competent mental health care and support.