Stories of Freedom: A Community Archive of Freed and Exonerated Voices

Partner: the Innocence Project

My Role: Editorial Lead | Production Manager

Year: 2024

Overview

StoryCorps Studios partnered with the Innocence Project to preserve and share the stories of people impacted by wrongful conviction. More than 30 conversations were recorded with exonerees and the loved ones who stood beside them, creating a permanent public archive of oral histories.

Drawing from those conversations, StoryCorps Studios produced a curated collection of eight stories—including one animated film—that explore resilience, healing, and the enduring power of human connection.

My Role

As Editorial Lead and Production Manager, I guided the produced collection from story development through publication. I hired and managed the production team, served as story editor across all eight produced stories, oversaw video and animation production, and worked closely with the Innocence Project throughout the editorial process.

Selected Work

The stories below represent a small selection from the project. The complete collection of produced stories, along with the full archive of StoryCorps conversations, is available on the Innocence Project website.

→ Explore the Full Collection

Wrongfully convicted at 16, Huwe Burton found hope through music during his 19 years in prison—a journey that led to a lasting friendship with rapper Saigon.

Carlos Sanchez speaks with his niece, Angelica Apolinaris, about rebuilding his life after spending nearly 25 years in prison for a murder he maintains he did not commit.

After spending 17 years in prison for a wrongful conviction, Rosa Jimenez reflects with her wife, Mary Flores, on rebuilding trust, healing, and finding hope after exoneration.

Recognition