When Aaron* arrived at Journey to New Life after a short time in prison, he felt like he was at a crossroads. During the time he was incarcerated, he got to know himself. He analyzed all the things that he took for granted. He saw how his incarceration was affecting his mother, his father, his daughter and his seven brothers, who had no choice but to continue on with their lives without him there. He lost a brother during that time, a particularly difficult experience since they were close in age and closely bonded. Because he was incarcerated, Aaron wasn’t able to attend the funeral to say his goodbyes and share his sorrow with his family.

During his younger years, Aaron’s parents and their family of eight boys fell on hard times sometimes, but they were a close-knit unit. His older brothers looked out for him, and his younger brothers looked up to him, so it weighed heavily on his mind that he had inflicted pain and disappointment on them.

“It was an eye opener,” he said. “When you do time and get out of prison, you’re a new you. Anyone with any logical thinking would not want to go back to the same situation as before. I wanted a new path. I wanted to try a new way. Instead of going left again, I wanted to try to go right. I’m very blessed that Journey to New Life came into my life.”

Journey to New life helped Aaron with basic necessities and also helped him secure stable housing and employment. Plus, he was able to connect with legal services, thanks in large part to Journey to New Life’s partnerships with individuals and businesses in the community. Aaron was intent on regaining full custody of his daughter, a feat he achieved earlier this year. He and his daughter are reunited in the housing he secured through Journey to New Life’s program. And, since the two are both in school now, they are literally and figurately learning virtually together through the pandemic.

Aaron is confident when he says, “I’m the first — and the last — in my family to go to prison.”

*The client asked for his name to be changed to protect his family from additional hurt.