Category: Second Chance Stories
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 [...]
Venturing Off Track
Al-Tariq and his siblings grew up in a single parent home. Raised by his mother and maternal grandmother, he excelled in school and avoided getting into trouble with the law despite his tough childhood. Al-Tariq received a full scholarship to a preparatory high school, but his curiosity led him to drug experimentation and hanging out [...]
The Wrong Crowd
Darris was the youngest of 10 children and lived with both parents until they divorced when he was 7 years old. As a teenager he started hanging out with the wrong crowd, dropping out of high school by the age of 16. Darris developed a drug and alcohol dependency which led to criminal activity and [...]
A Longtime Addict
Joshua was an active addict involved with drugs for as long as he can remember. He went to prison at 26 years old and did fourteen months on the inside. While in prison he made the decision to start a new life. He soon realized that everything in his life would have to change and [...]
Growing Up In Detention
Lonnie grew up in a single-parent home and was the middle child of three siblings. Because of his upbringing and the lifestyle to which he was exposed, he turned to the streets and got involved in criminal activities at a young age. By 13 years old, Lonnie was arrested and sent to a juvenile detention [...]
His Father’s Dream
Edgar was the first child born in the United States to a traditional Portuguese family. His father came here with a dream of great opportunity and a better life for his children. Edgar’s father taught his family to work hard, have faith, and realize their special talents. Instead, Edgar took some missteps and became an [...]
