Bill Text: NY J02082 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of Rehabilitation Through Arts

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-03-22 - ADOPTED [J02082 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J02082-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2082

BY: Senator MAYER

        COMMEMORATING     the    25th    Anniversary    of
        Rehabilitation Through Arts

  WHEREAS, Individuals and  organizations  devoted  to  improving  the
quality  of life for others, enabling them to build lives of dignity and
self-worth are deserving of the highest praise and recognition; and

  WHEREAS, From time to time, society calls upon these individuals and
organizations  to  be  recognized  for   the   significance   of   their
contributions  and  efforts  to  assist  others in developing the skills
necessary to be successful, productive citizens; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud  to  commemorate  the
25th  Anniversary of Rehabilitation Through Arts to be celebrated with a
Gala on Thursday, April 28, 2022,  at  the  CV  Rich  Mansion  in  White
Plains, New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Founded  at  Sing  Sing  Correctional  Facility  in  1996,
Rehabilitation  Through  Arts  (RTA)  helps  people  in  prison  develop
critical  life  skills  through  the  arts,  modeling an approach to the
justice system based on human dignity rather than punishment; and

  WHEREAS,  With  the  current  United  States  prison  system   being
predominately based on punishment, more than half of all people released
from prison are back within three years; this revolving door breaks down
families and communities and costs taxpayers billions of dollars; and

  WHEREAS,  Offering  a  better approach, RTA's program is dynamic and
richly varied, incorporating  a  wide  range  of  art  forms,  including
theatre, dance, music, creative writing, and visual arts; and

  WHEREAS, Led by a steering committee of incarcerated members at each
facility,  RTA  offers  customized curricula, ranging from a one session
master class in jazz  guitar  to  a  year-long  project  of  script  and
character analysis; and

  WHEREAS,   Furthermore,   the   RTA  model  provides  an  intensive,
comprehensive arts program which builds critical life skills  so  people
can  meet  the  challenges  of connecting with family and community when
released; and

  WHEREAS, This vital organization demonstrates that an approach based
on human dignity is vastly more successful than one based on punishment;
less than five percent of RTA members return to prison, compared to  the
national recidivism rate of 60 percent; and

  WHEREAS,   Over   its   distinguished   25-year   history,  RTA  has
demonstrated continuous service to the residents and  communities  which
it serves; and

  WHEREAS,  The success of RTA is in direct correlation to the efforts
of its dedicated staff, board, advisory council  and  volunteers,  whose
involvement  is,  and  always  has  been, characterized by an impressive

commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising  standard  of
excellence  in  all  endeavors  on  behalf  of  the organization and the
community it serves; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that when
individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated  and  recognized  by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Rehabilitation Through Arts; and  be
it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Rehabilitation Through Arts.