The Genesis: A Century of Lived Experience Meeting Academic Rigor

The foundation of Smartrauma was not forged in a traditional corporate boardroom, but out of a profound convergence of human resilience, grassroots survival, and elite academic collaboration. The catalyst for the organization dates back to the maximum-security corridors of the Auburn Correctional Facility in New York. It was there that co-founders Efrain Diaz, Michael Rhynes, and Professor Bruce Levitt spent over a decade co-developing The Phoenix Players Theatre Group (PPTG), pioneering trauma-informed expressive arts to foster rehabilitation and emotional restoration under the harshest institutional constraints.

This academic and restorative baseline was further verified by the landmark Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP) college initiative at Auburn. As documented in the official Cornell University 2012 Prison Graduation Commencement Records, this historic milestone ceremony was sponsored directly by Cornell University and Doris Buffett’s Sunshine Lady Foundation, celebrating the first carceral class to earn accredited degrees since 1995. This program proved that rigorous higher education could successfully thrive within the carceral system, establishing a baseline of institutional validity and academic excellence that directly inspires Smartrauma's training pipelines today.

Simultaneously, co-founder Efrain Diaz was successfully navigating his own highly publicized 22-year legal battle against a wrongful conviction—a journey highlighted by NBC New York Channel News. Following their respective releases, Diaz and Rhynes united with other exonerees to launch the 100 Years Podcast, an unfiltered public forum dedicated to exposing the deep systemic trauma of long-term incarceration.

The baseline methodology of using storytelling and active performance to navigate internal confinement is beautifully captured in Michael Rhynes' official talk, My secret dog inside Attica prison | TEDxAttica, which demonstrates how creative immersion heals complex institutional trauma. This resilience culminated in a historic legal victory, as documented in his official profile on the National Registry of Exonerations, charting his decades-long battle to permanently secure his freedom and clear his name. His ongoing advocacy and public dialogues are routinely spotlighted across leading media syndicates, including his featured broadcast interview, Michael Rhynes: The Will to Be Free on George Kilpatrick's Inspiration for the Nation.George Kilpatrick Inspiration for the Nation YouTube Channel. 

Dr. Levitt expands upon these concepts as detailed on the Cornell University Arts in Prisons Home Page, analyzing how performance-driven networks create foundational psychological safety nets essential for community re-entry. In recognition of these decades of community-engaged leadership and public scholarship, Cornell University presented Dr. Levitt with its inaugural Engaged Scholar Prize, cementing the institutional validity that underscores our learning models today.

Recognizing that returning citizens, disenfranchised youth, and vulnerable populations needed more than just standard re-entry assistance—they required complete, uncompromised socio-emotional stabilization paired with high-value technical economic leverage—the founders resolved to construct a new type of restorative ecosystem.

Institutional Incorporation & Operational Expansion

To translate this unified vision into a scalable public enterprise, Smartrauma Inc. was formally organized to establish our strict operational mandate: Social Mobility, Awareness, Recovery & Transformation.

Led by an executive board comprising Efrain Diaz, Michael Rhynes, and Dr. Bruce Levitt, the organization established a paradigm-shifting model. Rather than treating technical training and mental health as separate initiatives, Smartrauma integrated them into a singular, cohesive pipeline.

Key Milestones in Our Evolution:

• The Blueprint: The founders developed a proprietary, evidence-based cognitive-behavioral curriculum designed to heal deep-seated institutional and community trauma while fostering extreme professional discipline.

• The 12-Week Recovery Framework: The organization launched its signature 12-week program structure, deploying specialized educational workbooks to systematically guide participants out of high-risk survival states.

• Multi-Program Contract Expansion: Rapidly expanding its geographic footprint across New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, Smartrauma secured landmark multi-program service contracts. These initiatives provide anti-violence interventions, substance abuse recovery systems, and comprehensive re-entry programs directly to municipal school districts and state-referred individuals.

• The Strategic National Alliance: To ensure community safety and build institutional bridges, Smartrauma finalized a national alliance with the National Peace Officers Association (NPOA) and CEO Alvi’s Freedom Is A Must civic media network, embedding real-world mentorship and public policy advocacy directly into the academy's infrastructure.

Today: The Elite Future-Tech Academy

Today, Smartrauma stands as a model for trauma-informed social transformation. Based out of our central development hubs—including our primary operations in Hudson, New York—the ecosystem manages dedicated training, research, and workforce development divisions.

By providing absolute stability through secure supportive housing and recovery wellness, we clear the path for our scholars to master next-generation technical disciplines. From building humanoid robotics and programming virtual reality environments to piloting autonomous drones and architecting end-to-end cloud AI applications, Smartrauma graduates are entering the modern workforce not merely rehabilitated, but uniquely equipped to command high-income corporate tech careers.

Our Continuing Journey

Smartrauma is building a model that connects community wisdom with practical preparation for the future of work. We are committed to listening to participants, developing responsible partnerships, expanding access to technology education, and creating pathways that honor both human potential and lived experience. 

For partnership, volunteer, or program inquiries, contact: 

smartrauma@gmail.com 347-734-3623 

Questions?

info@smartrauma.org