August 13, 2025

On Friday, November 7, 2025, the curtain will rise at the historic Irvington Theater, for a night unlike any other—the RTA Alumni Showcase Gala. Nearly 30 years ago, RTA began as a small but determined program inside a New York State correctional facility. Today, it has grown into a powerful movement, using the arts to […]

July 31, 2025

People are tuning in to hear the voices of RTA alumni—and the message is loud and clear: creativity can change lives. This summer, three powerful alumni—Dario Peña, John “Divine G” Whitfield, and Sean “Dino” Johnson—have taken to the airwaves, appearing on a series of podcasts to reflect on their journeys from incarceration to impact. While […]

July 30, 2025

RTA was recently awarded grants from The Tow Foundation and ArtsWestchester, and we are thrilled to share the news. The Tow Foundation has committed to three years of General Operating Support, providing crucial stability and flexibility as we deepen our impact. This multi‑year investment allows us to plan boldly—expanding our programming reach in correctional facilities, […]

July 29, 2025

On July 29, 2015, inside the gymnasium of Woodbourne Correctional Facility, a group of RTA participants stepped onto a makeshift stage and danced with precision, emotion, and purpose. The piece was called Finally Free—a modern dance performance that brought together months of hard work, creative risk-taking, and collaboration. Directed and choreographed by Susan Slotnick and […]

July 24, 2025

At Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), we believe in the power of the arts to unlock human potential, transform lives, and rebuild communities. But transformation begins with recognition—and recognition begins with language. Too often, people who are or have been incarcerated are referred to by dehumanizing labels: “inmate,” “felon,” “offender.” These terms reduce individuals to […]

May 28, 2025

97% of RTA participants do not return to prison within three years of release. While this statistic is a clear marker of our RTA’s impact, it’s time to dig deeper into understanding the meaning of success after serving time in prison—it’s not just a number. The term recidivism refers to a person’s relapse into criminal […]

May 5, 2025

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and with it comes the perfect moment to reflect not only on the importance of what we do at RTA — but the deeper why behind it. At its heart, RTA believes in the power of the arts to unlock potential. The arts are all-inclusive, non-judgmental, and carry a […]

April 18, 2025

Reimagining Myself® participants receiving their certificates of completion at Sierra Conservation Center in Jamestown, California.   April is Second Chance Month®—a time for us to pause and reflect on the nearly 44,000 barriers that individuals face after incarceration. These barriers extend far beyond prison walls, affecting access to employment, housing, education, and other essential services. […]

April 4, 2025

On April 3, 2025, RTA Executive Director Jermaine Archer led a conversation with Clarence Maclin, Sean “Dino” Johnson and Dario Peña, SING SING actors and alumni of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program. SING SING is an Oscar-nominated film based on RTA’s theater program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. You can watch the film […]

March 17, 2025

What can I do to support RTA?  Host A House Party: Hosting a house party is more than just gathering friends—it’s an act of impact. By bringing people together to watch SING SING and discuss the power of the arts in prison, you’ve helped expand this conversation beyond the screen. Thank you for making space […]