273: Rehabilitation Through the Arts - Katherine Vockins

On this week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Katherine Vockins — founder of Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA).

Katherine is a changemaker, visionary, and advocate who saw the power of the arts to transform lives — even behind prison walls. In 1996, she walked into Sing Sing Correctional Facility to support a group of men who wanted to put on a play, and from that spark, Rehabilitation Through the Arts was born.

Nearly three decades later, RTA has grown into a thriving nonprofit that now operates in multiple prisons across New York State and elsewhere — and their reach continues to grow. Through programs in theater, dance, music, creative writing, and visual arts, RTA helps incarcerated men and women develop critical life skills, heal from trauma, and discover their full potential. The results are astounding: while the national recidivism rate hovers around 60 percent, fewer than 3 percent of RTA alumni return to prison.

RTA’s inspiring story has reached even more people through the Oscar-nominated film Sing Sing, which was inspired by the program and features both professional actors and RTA alumni. Katherine’s work is about dignity, humanity, and the belief that every life has value and the capacity to change.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
✨ Katherine’s journey to founding Rehabilitation Through the Arts;
✨ How the arts empower incarcerated men and women to grow, heal, and transform their lives;
✨ The real impact of RTA — including why participants are so much less likely to return to prison;
✨ Stories of hope, redemption, and second chances from inside prison walls;
✨ How the film Sing Sing shines a light on this powerful work;
✨ And how you can support RTA and be part of this movement for change.

Follow + Learn More:
Follow Rehabilitation Through the Arts on Instagram @rta_arts and visit RTA-Arts.org to learn more, donate, or get involved.

🎧 Listen + Subscribe:
Don’t miss this powerful and moving conversation — and so many others!
Listen to The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and be sure to subscribe to stay up-to-date with our latest episodes.

✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls — and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit: 1GirlRevolution.com