When COVID-19 hit Kensington, people took care of one another. Many of these efforts were led by immigrants and Muslim women. They reached out to their neighbors in multiple languages, raised funds, and worked long hours lifting heavy boxes to make sure that no one would go hungry. Their work was and continues to be rooted in solidarity and love. Throughout the pandemic, Anna and Jordan Rathkopf photographed and interviewed these diverse networks of people who devoted their time, energy, and hearts to Mutual Aid in their community. The Kensington Cares exhibit celebrates this collective movement on the Avenue C Plaza—a place of resilience and creativity.
photoville.com/projects/kensington-cares
Artist Bios
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Anna and Jordan Rathkopf
Anna and Jordan Rathkopf are an award-winning visual storytelling duo whose work explores themes of empathy, health, and identity. Drawing from their personal experiences with cancer and caregiving, they use visual storytelling to capture moments of vulnerability and resilience, fostering meaningful societal conversations about illness and survivorship.
They co-authored _HER2: The Diagnosed, The Caregiver, and Their Son_ (Daylight, 2024), an intimate and powerful narrative that documents the realities of cancer under 50, including its impact on relationships and family dynamics. Their work earned the 2024 Photographic Achievement Award for Visual Storytelling from the International Photographic Council at the United Nations and has been recognized with accolades from Communication Arts, American Photography, American Photographic Artists (APA), and the Communicator Awards.
Through their lens, the Rathkopfs bring authenticity to the stories of survivors and caregivers, highlighting both their own family’s journey and the experiences of others impacted by illness. Their stories serve as a call to action, inspiring conversations and building empathy around some of the most challenging aspects of the human experience.
Organizations
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Arts & Democracy
Arts & Democracy cross pollinates culture, participatory democracy, and social justice. We support cultural organizing and cross-sector collaborations, raise the visibility of transformative work, connect cultural practitioners with activists, organizers, and policymakers, and create spaces for reflection.
Kensington Cares এলাকার যত্নে কেন্সিংটন / Kensington Se Cuida
Featuring: Anna and Jordan Rathkopf
Supported by:
Locations
View Location Details Avenue C PlazaMcDonald Ave and Avenue C
Kensington, Brooklyn
NY
Location open 24 hours
Photographed by: Anna and Jordan Rathkopf
Featuring: Kensington-WT Mutual Aid, Pakistani American Youth Society (PAYS), People in Need, Shahana Hanif, Thai Farm Kitchen Brooklyn
Co-Sponsored by: ArtBuilt and Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY
Supported by: NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council and City Council Member Brad Lander
