David Rothenberg’s life has centered on theater, social activism, politics, and a tireless focus on advocating for the lives of those impacted by the criminal justice system. In 1967, he produced the play Fortune and Men’s Eyes, inspiring The Fortune Society. Fortune has become one of the leading reentry service organizations in the country, serving over 13,000 formerly incarcerated individuals per year, providing direct service, as well as advocacy and research. In 1971, David was one of a small group of civilian monitors brought into Attica at the request of the incarcerated individuals who were fighting for their human rights. 

David is a former member of the NYC Human Rights Commission and was appointed as Advisory Counsel to the NYS Commission on Human Rights in 1984. With the help of Fortune participants, David created, wrote and produced the play The Castle. His memoir, Fortune in My Eyes, was published in 2015.