Antonio Battle Update And FLASH FUNDRAISER!

Quick update and flash fundraiser for Antonio Battle, whom many of you might remember—he was a founding member of my first workshop at Rikers, and many of you donated toward a small nest egg for his release. He was released from Queensboro Correctional Facility the week after Thanksgiving with the $400-some dollars many of you donated. He’s been struggling with some baseline issues like figuring out how to pay for his meds and finding a place to stay, and has been at Jamaica Hospital until this past week, when he was released to Faith Mission Crisis Center in Queens. He’ll be there for a month or so while they help him find permanent housing and provide support for his mental health issues.

He’s on an upward trajectory, and is looking forward to being independent. He’s also one of my finest writers and a wonderfully charismatic person. He’s at a really important point in his reentry from incarceration, when he either continues to make progress on his upward trajectory or sinks beneath the weight of being a reentering citizen with little money and a criminal record.

Speaking of the money: He’s running low. I’ll be visiting him at Faith Mission early this week, and would love to be able to hand him a bit of working income from a network of people who care about his fate.

That’s you, friends. If even just a few of you would consider donating, say, $20 or so today, I could bring him a couple hundred dollars to pay for basic expenses like toiletries, clothes, and sundries, and would remind him that he has people. If you’re compelled, just respond here and I’ll give you my Venmo or PayPal info. In return, I’ll write up my visit with him later this week.

Re/Creation is now running a fundraiser from July 12-31 with limited edition t-shirts and coffee mugs featuring Antonio Battle’s work. Please considering buying one (or more!). All funds will go to Antonio as he continues to struggle and strive in his work and in his reentry.