TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - You’ll often hear the phrase ‘we can and do recover’ among people who’ve battled and beat various addictions. Jodi Whitt of Topeka embodies that sentiment, and shares it by making a difference in the lives of others walking the same path that she once did.

“I was stuck in a revolving door of incarceration,” says Jodi Whitt, Chief Digital Navigator, KU Center for Digital Inclusion.

For 20 years Jodi Whitt struggled with addiction. But a residential treatment program through ‘Mirror of Topeka’ helped her get back on track in 2019. Sober now for more than five years, Whitt is on a major mission to help others.

“They need someone to help them, to guide them through,” says Whitt.

Through her job with the University of Kansas Center for Digital Inclusion, Whitt helps incarcerated women learn new life skills to succeed and reenter society.

“They gain skills, they have a resume when they are released and that confidence piece is really important,” says Whitt. “And they see that I’ve been there before”.

Whitt is now such a passionate advocate for helping women behind bars that she’s also working with the Shawnee County Jail, helping people in a place where she herself served time.

“I’m wanting to help reunite mothers with their children,” says Whitt. “So it’s important to show them through example, but also share resources I used when I was getting my life together.”

Those who work with Whitt in the recovery community of Topeka call her an inspiration.

“Jodi is such a hero, the way she pours herself into the community,” says Melissa Goodman, Vice President of Reentry Services, Mirror. “She’s a beacon of hope for so many.”

“I think it’s amazing to see somebody find their passion and ultimately help with an entire culture shift inside the Shawnee County Jail,” says Kristen Shook, manager ‘Work for Success’, Mirror.

In fact, between June and December of 2024, Whitt helped 21 women successfully reintegrate back into life after their release.

“I want to see a reduction in recidivism,” says Whitt. “I want to prove and show that it’s possible to change. and I want to empower the women I work with.”

To learn more about the KU program that started Whitt on her journey toward helping others, click here .