Make a Plan
Economic Opportunity, Ways to Work
I am a returning citizen due to some really bad choices I made. The thing that I want to share with you all is that ‘you must have a plan’. When I got out after serving a 10-year term, I decided that I wasn’t going back and that I needed to begin my plan beginning on my first day out of jail. My plan was to stay focused on my plan. So, I opened a checking and savings account with money I saved.. I then got a job installing office furniture (and I bought my own tools). I realized while incarcerated that I needed a strong network of strong people around me.
I began co-facilitating Family Unification Meeting and was told about the Ways to Work program by Wes Seaton. Wes works with the department of rehabilitation services. I followed up on his advice and that when I met Lauren. Lauren really went to bat for me in getting me approved. She even suggested I get a letter of recommendation from my parole officer. After getting my car loan, I met the staff of the financial opportunity center. The staff there helped me to network my public speaking skills so that I can be an advocate for others like me. I came in with no credit score at all… now, my credit score has gone up so high I can take on a mortgage and Gloria is going to help me go to school (without getting ripped off in loans.) This is how the programs have helped me and if you know someone like me… send them here. I am a proven example that “the plan works.”
Mike, Ways to Work client
For additional information on the Economic Opportunity Program at HumanKind, please visit our page here.