What Your Donations Support
AME EDUCATIONAL EVENT: PHOTOVILLE
The American Muslim Experience was selected for the 2024 Photoville Festival in New York, an event that features 18 shipping containers in Brooklyn Bridge Park, joined by over 35 open-air photo exhibits that are selected by a jury of world renowned industry experts, editors, and creators.
Our founder, Syed Yaqeen, was invited to do an artist talk and featured on the organization’s official YouTube channel to discuss the project which further amplified the stories we create.
Every day across the country, American Muslims go about their lives: teaching in classrooms, opening businesses, caring for their families, saving lives as first responders, and contributing to their communities in countless ways. American Muslim Experience documentarians are dedicated to capturing these everyday moments through powerful photo stories that reflect the true diversity of Muslim life in the United States.
However, creating and sharing these stories takes resources. And that’s where you come in.
Your donations directly fund the work that makes this project possible. While much of our budget supports essential operations—like web hosting, vendor partnerships, and professional fees—there are other crucial expenses that ensure these stories are told and preserved. Travel is one of the biggest costs, and as airfare, lodging, and transportation prices rise, so does the challenge of reaching the people whose stories need to be shared.
Beyond capturing images, we invest in the careful editing, archiving, and cataloging of thousands of photos and interviews, ensuring these narratives remain accessible for years to come. Every dollar helps sustain this work, allowing us to document lives that might otherwise go unseen in mainstream media.
What It Costs to Document One Story on Location
Here’s a sample breakdown of what it takes to send one photographer to document a family, business owner, or community leader for a few days:
Airfare & Transportation (depending on location)
Lodging & Meals
Photography Equipment & Maintenance
Story Editing, Publication, & Post-Production
Archiving & Data Storage
Total expenses: $1900 - $3000
What It Costs to Host an In-Person Educational Event
In addition to documenting stories, we also bring communities together through educational events that highlight these narratives. Hosting an in-person event requires a range of expenses to ensure a meaningful and impactful experience:
Speaker Honorariums (depending on expertise and location)
Venue Rental & A/V Equipment
Signage & Printed Materials
Travel for Speakers & Staff
Event Coordination Vendors
Total expenses: $2500 - $7500
Without financial support, these stories risk being lost. Your contribution is more than a donation. It’s an investment in representation, in history, and in the shared understanding that strengthens American communities.
We humbly ask you to help us continue this mission. Donate today and become a part of our story.
