Category: Second Chance Stories
Hold on to Hope
Jeremy M., a product of a broken family in Pennsylvania, grew up without guidance or long-term plans. He embraced a life of spontaneity, living only for the present moment. At the age of 19, Jeremy developed an online friendship with a girl from South Dakota who convinced him to make the life-altering decision of relocating [...]
Freed by Faith
Josephine E. found herself in a dark place due to her alcohol use. It wasn’t until her church was seeking a recovery group coordinator that she found the motivation to make a change. Asking for Help At her lowest point, Josephine turned to faith and her community to guide her toward a successful recovery. Through [...]
Free at Last
Reigh E. grew up in Vallejo, California and was exposed to crime, drugs, and violence as a young child. Over time, he began normalizing these destructive behaviors and felt that using them was the only way to survive. Reigh walked around with a “don’t mess with me” attitude. Many people warned him that his criminal [...]
A Desire to Change
Jaime E. was born into a toxic environment. He never met his father, and his mother had a severe drug addiction. Jaime was sexually abused from age six until his mother died when he was just ten years old. His extended family placed him in the hands of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He moved from [...]
Finding Her Saving Grace
Deborah H. grew up with an abusive mother. Throughout her childhood, she was subjected to physical punishment. Eventually, when the trauma became too much, she moved out. This decision left her homeless with little to no resources or support. She didn’t know where to take shelter, let alone where she would find her next meal. [...]
An Orphan with Parents
Ross B. had to grow up fast. His parents suffered from drug addiction, leading them to repeated arrests. At the age of 14, the state of New Jersey placed him in foster care. By the time he reached 17, Ross had lived in more than a dozen foster homes, bouncing from place to place. Success [...]
Second Chance Story – Rashod Shares His Success
There’s nothing like a good success story to motivate you. We hear about crime and recidivism all over the news and often forget to pay attention to the stories that matter. Everyone deserves a second chance, and Rashod is grateful daily for his. Today, he gives back and touches the lives of many through his [...]
A Rough Start
After serving her sentence, Tanya returned home to an unstable living environment. While incarcerated, her apartment was broken into, and most of her belongings were stolen or damaged. Tanya was left with little to nothing and felt like a stranger in her own home. Very quickly, Tanya realized that if she was going to have [...]
Changing Perspectives
George had been a hustler his whole life until the law finally caught up with him. He knew that something needed to shift, and when he finally became willing to change, he had a new perspective on life. George knew the reentry program he was referred to was not going to be easy, but he [...]
Stopping the Cycle
Kenneth grew up in the juvenile system living in detention centers for seven years. The cycle continued into adulthood after he was charged with a criminal offense. He was released on bail to reentry programming where he learned about substance abuse and was able to accept his drug addiction. Now 19, Kenneth has interrupted the [...]
