Larry casts his fishing line and waits patiently for the first bite of the day. There’s no rush. No tension. No weight of the past pressing down on him. For the first time in decades, he is free—free from addiction, free from a cycle of incarceration, and free to savor a moment like this without looking over his shoulder.
Larry’s life took a hard turn at a young age and, by adulthood, there was no family left to turn to as he cycled in and out of prison. Decades of heroin addiction had kept him trapped—until a breakthrough in medical treatment options finally offered Larry a path to sobriety, allowing him to see clearly for the first time in forty years.
But reentering the world after so long inside required more than sobriety—it demanded reflection, change, and a new way of thinking. Work had never been the problem. Whether behind prison walls or out in the world, Larry had always worked. But each time he was released, he had no one to turn to and nothing to his name but his past.
“Coming from a prison setting into the community… everything is different. I had no clue how to write a resume. How am I gonna put down this big gap in my life?”
Six months ago, Larry came across a Chrysalis flyer at his halfway house. Intrigued, he decided to give the program a chance.
With no idea how to put together a resume—let alone how to explain years of incarceration without being immediately disqualified—Larry worked closely with his employment specialist to navigate every step of the process. He secured his forklift certification, practiced for interviews, and accessed professional attire and hygiene items from Chrysalis’ resource room.
When he landed a warehouse job, it felt like a fresh start. But it didn’t take long for Larry to realize it wasn’t the right fit. He turned to his employment specialist once again and, through Chrysalis Staffing, he was connected to a role that would bring real meaning to his days.
“Illumination Foundation is a site that provides for the homeless. I do janitorial, we feed them, socialize with them, we do everything.”
Today, Larry finds purpose as a site attendant at a recuperative care center at Illumination Foundation, where he provides janitorial services and support to individuals experiencing homelessness recently discharged from hospitals. The job makes him reflect on what it feels like to be forgotten by the world. Now, he is the one making sure others feel seen.
Recently, he rang the Success Bell in our lobby bustling with clients preparing for a job-readiness class. Larry stood before them—living proof that change is possible. “Stay strong,” he encouraged, ringing the bell with pride. His testimony was brief, but the hope it inspired is lasting.
“I’m a success story! I have a steady job. I made it.”
Back at the lake, Larry reels in his first catch of the day. But his mind isn’t just on the fish—it’s on what’s ahead. Soon, he’ll be moving out of the halfway house, getting his own place, and building a life of true independence. He’s taking things one day at a time, but this time, he’s looking forward.
Because for the first time, Larry isn’t just surviving. He’s living.