By Malcolm Banks, Phoenix Staff Writer

In preparation for the production of The Exonerated, Dr. Patrick Santoro hosted a workshop with actors and members of the production team to learn about the experiences of James Soto and Marcus Bey as survivors of wrongful convictions by the criminal justice system.

Empathizing and centering the body were major themes for the workshop.

The stories of Soto and Bey were absolutely inspirational. Despite the years taken away from their lives, they persevered and managed to get their educations.

Bey earned his bachelor’s degree from Governors State University, and Soto earned his degree from Northwestern University.

Both Soto and Bey said that it’s a constant struggle that exonerees face getting reacclimated to society. Being empathetic and spreading awareness on issues of this nature can help shine a light on the many injustices in society today.

The link for buying tickets to The Exonerated is The Exonerated | Governors State University (govst.edu)