Orijin | 2nd Chances @ Work
Welcome to Orijin's 2nd Chances @ Work, a community podcast dedicated to changing corrections for good.
Join Arti Finn, Orijin Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, as she interviews justice-impacted individuals who are harnessing the power of education to break the cycle of incarceration and leaders who are transforming corrections!
Orijin | 2nd Chances @ Work
The Power of Arts, Purpose & Perseverance: Divine G Whitfield’s Story
In honor of Second Chance Awareness Month, this episode of 2nd Chances @ Work features the remarkable John “Divine G” Whitfield — the justice-impacted changemaker whose real-life story inspired the critically acclaimed film Sing Sing, starring Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo.
Divine G’s journey from wrongful incarceration to founding Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) inside New York’s Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a powerful testament to how creativity, self-expression, and community can drive personal transformation — and change lives behind the wall. As he shares in this deeply human conversation with host Arti Finn, Divine G’s leadership helped build a program with a 3% recidivism rate, compared to the national average of about 60%.
Listeners will hear how his passion for the arts sparked hope in even the most hardened individuals, what correctional leaders can do to support transformation, and why he believes love, patience, and purpose are the keys to rehabilitation.
He’s a train operator, published author, and former tour team member for Lil Wayne — and he’s still fighting to clear his name. Divine G’s story reminds us that transformation is always possible when people are given the tools, trust, and second chances they deserve.
Listen now and be inspired to see justice-involved individuals in a new light.
Learn more and support his fight for exoneration: FreeDivineG.org
Learn more about Orijin and our work to empower incarcerated learners: Orijin.works