Guest: John “Divine G” WHitfield

John Divine G. Whitfield’s life story is a profound testament to resilience, transformation, and the power of the arts to rehabilitate and empower. Wrongfully incarcerated for 25 years, Divine’s journey from despair to hope inspired the Oscar-nominated film Sing Sing. During his incarceration, he became deeply involved in a theater program called Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), which played a pivotal role in his personal growth and the rehabilitation of many inmates. Despite the immense injustice he faced, Divine chose to channel his experience into positivity, becoming a published author, playwright, and advocate for justice. After release, he continued his mission to empower others, notably through RTA’s extraordinarily low recidivism rate. Divine’s story highlights the importance of choice, education, art, and community support in overcoming adversity and injustice.