named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Alumni Engagement
Supports formerly incarcerated RTA participants after release through community building, events, and opportunities to contribute as teaching artists and advocates.
Prison Arts Programs
Offers theater, dance, music, writing, and visual arts workshops in correctional facilities to build life skills, self-expression, and personal growth among incarcerated individuals.
Reimagining Myself®
Ten-week reentry program using storytelling, performance, and group reflection to prepare incarcerated individuals for life after release, focusing on emotional and social readiness.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Theater and Performing Arts in Corrections 3 activities
- Deliver in-prison arts workshops in theater, dance, music, writing, and visual artsProvides long-term and short-term arts programming in correctional facilities, including year-long projects and single-session master classes in theater, dance, music, creative writing, and visual arts. Programs are facilitated by trained teaching artists and guided by incarcerated steering committees across 8 correctional facilities in multiple states.
- Facilitate arts-based performances and productions within correctional facilitiesSupports the rehearsal, collaboration, and full production of theatrical performances by incarcerated individuals, such as the musical Sister Act at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, fostering creativity, teamwork, and personal growth.
- Operate the Reimagining Myself® reentry programRuns a 10-week voluntary arts-based reentry program that meets twice weekly, using storytelling, performance, and group reflection to prepare incarcerated individuals for the social and emotional challenges of reentry. The program has been implemented at multiple facilities, including Howard Young Correctional Institution in Delaware.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Extend arts programming to underserved youth through theater-based interventionsImplements theater-based programs for underserved youth, such as at Lincoln Hall, using role-playing, creative expression, and lyrical analysis of songs and literature to help youth navigate conflict and develop personal resilience.
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Reentry Support Services 1 activity
- Provide post-release support and engagement for formerly incarcerated individualsOffers ongoing engagement and support for alumni after release, helping them transition to life beyond incarceration through community involvement, continued personal development, and opportunities to contribute as advocates, educators, and artists.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.61M
Contributions & grants$1.37M85%
Program service revenue$179K11%
Investment income$52K3%
Other revenue$8K
expenses
Total expenses$1.41M
Program expenses51%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising30%
Salaries & benefits$672K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.03M
Cash$1.83M
Investments$0
Liabilities$297K
Net assets$1.73M
Liquid reserves15.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +79.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LESLIE LICHTER | INTERIM EXEC | 40 | $167K |
board members · 13
- ALLISON CHERNOW — DIRECTOR
- E ANNETTE NASH GOVAN — CO-CHAIR
- GABE CRUZ — DIRECTOR
- JERMAINE ARCHER — DIRECTOR
- KARIN SHIEL — CO-CHAIR
- KENNETH FIELDS — DIRECTOR
- LAUREN PRICE — DIRECTOR
- LAWRENCE BARTLEY — DIRECTOR
- MIKKI SHAW — VICE-CHAIR
- QUE NEWBILL — DIRECTOR
- SEAN DINO JOHNSON — DIRECTOR
- SHERYL BAKER — SECRETARY
- SUZANNE KESSLER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- A24 Partner — Collaborated with RTA to produce the film Sing Sing.
- Delaware Public Media Partner — Featured the Reimagining Myself® program in a media piece highlighting participant and facilitator experiences.
- Exodus Partner — Supported Clarence Maclin’s reentry and rehabilitation alongside RTA.
- Hudson Link Partner — Supported Clarence Maclin’s reentry and rehabilitation alongside RTA.
- NY1 Partner — Collaborated with NY1 to produce a feature on RTA's work at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility.
- NY1 Partner — Collaborated with RTA to produce coverage of arts programs inside Bedford Hills correctional facility
- Sing Sing Correctional Facility Government — Founded RTA at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in 1996.
- Sing Sing Correctional Facility Partner — Site where RTA was founded and implemented its arts programming with incarcerated individuals.
- Sing Sing Correctional Facility Partner — Site where RTA was launched and where programming has been implemented
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Arts-Based Rehabilitation for Personal Transformationmethodology: arts-based_rehabilitationBy engaging incarcerated individuals in theater, music, writing, and visual arts, we foster personal growth, self-efficacy, and behavioral change because creative expression disrupts deterministic narratives of incarceration and builds internal capacity for rehabilitation and reentry.
- Identity Transformation Through Reentry Programmingmethodology: reentry_through_identity_transformationBy using structured arts-based reentry programs like Reimagining Myself®, we support successful reintegration because shifting self-perception and building confidence during incarceration leads to sustainable mindset changes post-release.
- Integration of Cognitive-Behavioral Practice and Lived Experiencemethodology: cognitive_behavioral_and_lived_experienceBy combining cognitive-behavioral techniques with participants’ lived experiences through storytelling and reflection, we strengthen identity and communication skills because this integration supports emotional regulation and prosocial behavior critical for reentry.
- Peer-Led Arts Workshops for Community Ownershipmethodology: peer_led_programmingBy structuring arts workshops to be co-led by incarcerated steering committees, we deepen accountability and engagement because peer leadership fosters trust, shared ownership, and authentic participation in the rehabilitation process.