In many ways, a Chrysalis Roads van embodies the essence of a chrysalis. It serves as a space for growth, change, and transformation for the transitional workers inside, most of whom have recently been released from jail or prison. As they embark on their daily task of beautifying California’s roadways, they also begin a journey of professional and personal development.

Each client is guided and encouraged by a supervisor who is invested in their safety, professional development, and wellbeing. One such supervisor is Robert, who knows what it means to find community and purpose as a member of one of our crews.

Robert’s path to success wasn’t easy. After 18 years of incarceration, he faced a number of barriers to employment and reintegrating into his community. Apparent gaps in his work history due to time spent in prison made it difficult for him to secure job leads. “When I came out, I was looking for jobs, but I didn’t have much experience to show,” he shares. 

“From the moment I walked into Chrysalis, I felt welcomed. I realized I had come to the right place.”

Robert found his way to Chrysalis through a transitional home, where he learned about our job-readiness services and employment social enterprise program.

Initially starting as a client, Robert excelled in a transitional job with the Chrysalis Roads program. Driven by his tenacious spirit, faith, and unwavering work ethic, he transitioned into a leadership role in just three months time. Now, he encourages his clients to see their potential. “I tell them, ‘I started from the back, and now I’m in the front. You can do this too.’”

 “I started in the back of the van, watching my supervisor and thinking, ‘I can do this!'”

Beyond ensuring that his crew members safely and efficiently complete their duties, Robert prioritizes understanding the struggles they might face in realizing their professional goals or in their personal lives. He recognizes that his crew members are whole individuals, not just employees. “I give every one of my clients a card, letting them know they can reach out to me anytime,” he says. “It’s important for them to know that someone cares.”

He also shares that a steady job is both a blessing and essential for his stability. “It means the world to me. It gives me purpose,” he shares. Now living in his own apartment and driving his own car, he celebrates the opportunity to build a safe and loving home and the independence he has gained.

As a supervisor, we are grateful that Robert is fostering an environment of positivity and growth for Chrysalis clients and creating ripples of change – both inside the van and beyond. His journey exemplifies the transformation that can happen when individuals are given a second chance and a path to meaningful, gainful employment. “All you have to do is take the first step,” he encourages. “Chrysalis is here with open arms, ready to help you.”

Like Robert, you, too, can make a difference in the lives of individuals navigating barriers to employment by joining our team of dedicated and passionate professionals. 

Chrysalis is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from all qualified individuals who share lived experience with the communities we serve. In particular, Chrysalis welcomes applicants who are formerly incarcerated and/or justice-involved; people who have experienced housing insecurity and/or economic inequity; Black, Indigenous, and people of color; persons with disabilities; ethnic and religious minorities; and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

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“Chrysalis supports us 100% and that’s big for people like me that come from where I come from. That’s big for a lot of our clients. There are people that really, genuinely care. Chrysalis cares.”

The post Staff Spotlight: Robert first appeared on Chrysalis.

“Every day is a beautiful day. The day’s going to be the day – it’s what you make of it.”

Richard got mixed up with the wrong crowd at an early age, which led to his involvement in gangs at just 13 years old. He shares, “It’s not that my upbringing was bad. I had good parents who tried to teach me right from wrong. But I went astray.” 

After committing a number of crimes to sustain his addiction, Richard lets out a quiet sigh of relief and reflects, “I finally got arrested. It was a good thing. I had to take responsibility for what I did.” During his 25-year sentence, he survived 15 years of solitary confinement. He shares that he used that time to read and prepare himself to build a different life when he got out.

“When I finally got arrested, I said, ‘Okay, now I gotta face the music.’”

Richard knew that he would confront obstacles to obtaining employment upon his release. So when a friend recommended Chrysalis, he eagerly attended our job-readiness classes and quickly got to work with his employment specialist to develop his resume and practice for interviews. Richard extends his gratitude to a number of Chrysalis staff members and shares, “If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I would have made it.”

Through Chrysalis Staffing, Richard was referred to a temporary job and later went on to accept a permanent position with Cardinal Manning Center. As a residential assistant, he supports some of Los Angeles’ most vulnerable neighbors by ensuring the safety of program participants, guests, volunteers, and staff while also helping to maintain the cleanliness of the facility. 

“If it wasn’t for Chrysalis, I wouldn’t have a job today.”

When he’s not working, Richard cares for and spends time with his family, volunteers with at-risk youth, and regularly attends services at his local church. He also performs as a musical entertainer and enjoys adding to his impressive collection of records.

Chrysalis thanks Richard for sharing his story and inspiring others who face similar societal barriers due to their pasts. It is our privilege to support our clients with the resources and support they need to work and thrive. Here’s to continuing to empower everyone to make waves of positive change throughout our community!

“Whatever you’re going through, always remember there’s something better in life that’s coming your way.”

Richard is among over 8,500 individuals who will turn to our organization for support this 40th anniversary year. Please join us in our efforts to build a stronger workforce – every dollar helps us change lives!

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The post Success Bells: Richard first appeared on Chrysalis.

“I was incarcerated for 28 years…I’m just a grateful individual who’s happy to be home free and excited about this opportunity to see what the future holds for me.”

After his morning rituals and before the sun rises, Alan is on site with his fellow Chrysalis Roads crew members, prepared for another day maintaining our Southern California freeways. Retrieving litter and providing landscaping services is not easy work. But he explains that his transitional job with the Ringlet crew is a privilege and offers him the opportunity to provide for his family, pursue his long-term professional goals, empower and encourage fellow crew members, and beautify his community.

Life growing up in Los Angeles was tough, and Alan was exposed to a lifestyle that led him to gang involvement and substance use. While incarcerated, he began forging a new path – securing an Associate’s Degree in Human Services, a certification in addiction studies, and later became a certified mentor.

“I like being part of this team, that we’re all from different walks of life… To see everybody striving to be better, makes me want to be better.”

After his release, Alan wasn’t getting callbacks for jobs – until he turned to Chrysalis. A transitional job with our employment social enterprise business Roads offered him a flexible work schedule that allowed him to earn a paycheck while attending school to secure his Class A driver license – courses that were covered by a Chrysalis scholarship. 

When asked about his interactions with staff, Alan shares that he knew Chrysalis was a special place right away. “This is where I need to be, these people are sincere, this help is real.” In addition to building confidence through personalized job coaching from his employment specialist, he expresses gratitude for his encouraging Roads supervisor and the camaraderie shared among the crew.

“Our supervisor reminds us every day that this is a transition to something greater…I’m proof of it. I’m still growing. I’m gaining confidence with everything I do.”

Alan embraces each day with determination, gratitude, and faith in what’s to come. He is dedicated to providing for his family, showing up for his crew, and inspiring others who have walked a similar path. “It’s sometimes hard to ask for help. I would encourage everyone to just ask…Try new things and believe in what Chrysalis has to offer.” Also celebrating eight years of sobriety, he hopes to eventually pursue a career supporting individuals battling addiction. 

Reflecting on where he is today, including six years of marriage and being with his children and grandchildren, his eyes well up when he shares that he will soon get to walk his daughter down the aisle. “There’s more to life… I hope people can find the joy and happiness I’ve found.”

“I’m a proud father, grandfather, and husband who’s grateful at this second opportunity at life and freedom. Also, I’m very proud to be a crew member at Chrysalis. I love my job.”

Alan is among 8,500 Chrysalis clients who turn to our organization for support each year. Please join us in our efforts to build a stronger workforce: We’ve got a job to do.

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The post Before the Bell: Alan first appeared on Chrysalis.

“This is not my life. I was ready to quit when I quit. When I walked away from it, I knew I was done, and there was no looking back.”

With a steady gaze on the possibilities of the future, Patrik accepted a referral to Chrysalis in early 2020 on behalf of his rehab program. He came to us with years of steady warehouse, construction, professional driving, and caregiving experience. But his previous arrests and lack of recent work history were clear barriers to his ability to secure employment. 

Patrik discussed his professional goals with his employment specialist, and together they outlined an employment plan. In addition to building a resume and cover letter with a Chrysalis volunteer, he secured professional attire from our resource room, was referred to a transitional job with Chrysalis Roads maintaining our California freeways, and was connected to legal aid that enabled him to have a felony conviction expunged from his record.

“When I came to Chrysalis I had just completed rehab and I was homeless for six years. The resources that Chrysalis has are so endless almost.”

Despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Patrik jumped at every opportunity to cover shifts and attended paid online training with Roads when offered. He was later referred to a competitive micromobility cohort with the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) through the SECTOR program, which opened the first of many doors that would give Patrik access to compensated educational sessions and gainful employment within the clean tech space. 

In addition to completing a paid 16-week bicycle maintenance course, Patrik secured an internship with Pedal Movement, which later turned into a full-time job that he has held for over a year. As a bike tech, he helps to maintain 650 electric bikes throughout Long Beach, a position that melds his passion for the cycling industry with his desire to establish a long-term career in the space.

“The doors that have been opened to me have been endless, and [Chrysalis] has been with me every step of the way.”

Patrik shares that the real-world resources and support he received at Chrysalis have been critical to his ability to succeed. He reflects, “Being committed to something and seeing it through, that’s what it’s about, and Chrysalis helped with that. I’m not homeless anymore. I can provide for myself.”

When Patrik first turned to us for support, he had a bike and a backpack to his name. He also had a solid commitment to living his life with integrity and knowing his worth. Today, he celebrates being sober and having stable housing, a steady job, a driver license, and a car – although he’ll be the first to say he prefers his bike. 

Chrysalis commends Patrik for bringing his personal and professional goals to life. In his free time, he rides his bike to raise money for cancer research, volunteers with a dog rescue organization, and looks forward to attending business school in the future.

“Everything [Chrysalis] has done has helped me go from where I didn’t want to be any longer to where I am now.”

Patrik is among 8,500 Chrysalis clients who turn to our organization for support each year. Please join us in our efforts to build a stronger workforce – every dollar helps us change lives!

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The post Success Bells: Patrik first appeared on Chrysalis.

Every day, Can Dee puts on her uniform with pride.

For Can Dee, her hard work is a reflection of her gratitude to Chrysalis. “I’m just trying to be good to my company,” she says. “I’m not here to just receive from Chrysalis. I’m here to give like they gave to me.”

She was first referred to Chrysalis upon reentry after 10 months in jail, where she’d been fighting a self-defense case. “Someone was trying to kill my son, and I just blacked out,” she says. “It’s kind of hard to talk about.” Eventually Can Dee was released on bail and with a promise to the judge that she would work and go to school. 

After nearly a year of incarceration, Can Dee discovered that her landlord had given her apartment to someone else. “I lost everything,” she says. She was afraid, but she remembered that when she first moved to California from her hometown of Memphis several years back, she’d made a promise to herself: “I knew I came to bless somebody in any way I possibly can.”

After navigating the justice system and losing housing, Can Dee was connected to job search training, basic needs support, and a transitional job with Chrysalis.

Through a reentry program for formerly incarcerated women, Can Dee was connected with Chrysalis in Orange County. In addition to completing our employment program and being connected to a transitional job within our social enterprise business, her Employment Specialist provided gift cards to buy groceries and professional attire for interviews. “I didn’t have anything,” she remembers. “I had a white T-shirt and a pair of jeans and no shoes.” 

Can Dee also joined the SECTOR program and started working with Project Roomkey and the Downtown Women’s Center. She found both jobs very fulfilling. Working with people experiencing homelessness and/or vulnerable populations, including individuals who have experienced abuse or assault, is her dream. “That is something I’m very passionate about and want to do for the rest of my life.” She has also enrolled in college courses in the fields of social work and business administration. 

While working, Can Dee has been pursuing degrees in social work and business administration.

Further, at Chrysalis and through the SECTOR program, she has gained skills to explore future job opportunities. “Whatever you need, Chrysalis will help you to the best of their ability,” she says. She reflects on receiving resume-writing and practice interview support as well as assistance  obtaining her Driver License and registering for school. “And they sit down and talk with you if you don’t understand,” she says. “They care about you. They’re not faking it.”

Looking back on how far she’s come, Can Dee says, “Chrysalis has taught me how to remain humble. I am human; I make mistakes, but even though I’ve done the things I’ve done, I had to learn to forgive myself.” She says now she knows, “I’m not a loser. I’m brave, and I can do all the things I set my mind to.” 

“Whatever you need, Chrysalis will help you to the best of their ability,”

Can Dee is among 7,000 Chrysalis clients who turn to our organization for support each year. Please join us in our efforts to build a stronger workforce by making an impactful end-of-year gift today – every dollar helps us change lives!

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The post Before the Bell: Can Dee first appeared on Chrysalis.

When Graham was faced with a life sentence in prison at 21 years old, he thought he would never go home.

With no hope for the future, Graham “dove into the culture in prison,” where he was involved in gang activity and focused on building a reputation for himself through any means necessary.

“Prison is a bunch of hurt kids trying to fight their way through every problem, and I fit right in.” He’d had a difficult childhood, experiencing abuse and neglect by his parents, as well as bullying by his peers. He learned to cope, he says, by alternating between acts of aggression and tuning everything out. 

Graham brought those same habits to his time in prison and spent the first dozen years of his sentence engaging in destructive behavior. He waged an internal battle: “There was something in me that said, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore,’ but I still did it.”

Finally, he came to a point where his desire to go home motivated him to attend rehabilitative groups that facilitated healing and encouraged making different choices and creating a vision for his future.

“Prison is a bunch of hurt kids trying to fight their way through every problem.”

After he was released from prison in February 2019, the program Graham was part of referred him to Chrysalis. He came home to a changed world, both socially and technologically, and worried how his past might affect his ability to secure employment, “I was worried about all the stigmas around incarceration, around the tattoos, around what I’d done before.” 

Graham remembers taking the bus to Chrysalis and being so eager to arrive that he got there before the center had opened. When it did, Graham says, “I felt immediately welcomed.” The atmosphere at Chrysalis was warm and inviting. “I didn’t feel judged coming in. And my whole life I’d felt judged.”

“I was worried about all the stigmas around incarceration…I didn’t feel judged [at Chrysalis].”

Graham’s Employment Specialist partnered with him to develop a personalized employment plan and lay out the path he wanted to take with his career. “She asked me about my experiences, and not just about where I wanted to work, but what I wanted to do.” He felt free to dream, to express his desire to work with incarcerated individuals who were struggling just like he had in the past. “They didn’t discourage that,” he says. Instead, Chrysalis always urged Graham to aim higher. 

After working a transitional job with the Chrysalis Roads program maintaining our Southern California freeways, Graham found work with a moving company and then applied for a position that aligned with his vision: a transformational coach with an organization that worked inside prisons, reentry programs, group homes, and schools. Chrysalis prepared him for this moment. “My biggest fear was the work gap,” he says. But his Employment Specialist had helped him translate the work he’d done while serving time into skills he could include on his resume. He also received coaching on how to address his experience in the justice system during a job interview.

At Chrysalis, Graham felt free to dream, to express his desire to work with incarcerated individuals.

Today, Graham works as a Coach Coordinator with Success Stories, leading incarcerated individuals through a 12-week curriculum that addresses the systemic social factors that can be the root of harmful behavior. In his role, he guides participants to build new paradigms for viewing the world and their place in it. 

Recently, he watched 20 people graduate from the program at the same prison where he’d spent most of his sentence. “There was a degree of redemption, kind of an amends made for the harm I’d done in those environments,” he says. “Being able to do this kind of work is the most powerful thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“Being able to do this kind of work is the most powerful thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

To this day, Graham’s grandmother’s guiding light lives on within him and shines through his loving and supportive family members. His transformation is a testament to the positive impact one person can make in our community, and Chrysalis is grateful to have been part of his journey.

The post Success Bells: Graham first appeared on Chrysalis.

For three decades, Gilbert viewed the world through a small window. From his cell, he could see a desert field, a fence, and a car patrolling the surrounding area. He also envisioned what life would be like while not incarcerated… a colorful life that involved time with loved ones and embracing meaningful employment. He shares, “It started off as a dream…but that spark turned into a fire.”

Shortly after his release, Gilbert was referred to Chrysalis. While employed in a transitional job within a division of our employment social enterprise, Chrysalis Roads, Gilbert secured his driver license for the first time. When the COVID-19 pandemic stalled his progress, Gilbert turned back to Chrysalis and other service providers to continue forward.

At Chrysalis, Gilbert received one-on-one support from his Employment Specialist, job-readiness coaching, and guidance on how to prepare for and dress professionally for interviews. Later, while providing COVID testing services, Gilbert recognized his passion for serving others. 

Thanks to a referral from his Chrysalis Employment Specialist, Gilbert was connected to the training and support he needed to pursue his dream of becoming a substance use counselor. For nearly a year, he has been conducting group sessions, emphasizing the importance of challenging societal stereotypes, enabling emotional growth, and envisioning success. 

No longer viewing a barren field through a small window, Gilbert sees the potential in himself and in those with whom he surrounds himself. “This is what it’s all about. Me overcoming everything that was stacked up against me.” 

Outside of work, Gilbert enjoys spending time with his family and those he loves. His journey is a testament to what everyone in our community can accomplish when their resilience and determination are met with adequate and compassionate resources and support. Chrysalis is honored to be there for Gilbert and every individual who turns to us each day.

The post Success Bells: Gilbert first appeared on Chrysalis.

Chrysalis Roads is a division of our employment social enterprise that employs individuals on parole or active probation who have exited the justice system. As an individual with a history of involvement in the carceral system and substance use, Robert can relate to feeling like the barriers to starting over are insurmountable. 

Robert became a father as a teenager. He dropped out of high school, worked two jobs to provide for his family, and was faced with a painful separation from his son’s mother three years later. After turning to illegal ways of making money, he became substance dependent as a means to cope. He shares that turning himself into the police was the first step to getting sober and changing his life.

From the other end of the inmate phone, his son would say how much he missed him. “That would break me inside,” he reflects. Then, when Robert’s mother was faced with various life-threatening illnesses, he shares, “Every day I was in there, I was praying, please Lord don’t take her. I knew that was enough. My family needed me.” From that point on, Robert was determined to work on becoming the best version of himself that he could be.

“If it wasn’t for Chrysalis, I don’t know where I’d be right now.”

Robert was referred to Chrysalis by his parole officer. He beams when he talks about working with a volunteer on his first professional resume. After completing our job-readiness classes and learning the basics of hard and soft skills, interviewing, and more, Robert secured an entry-level position at a local restaurant chain. As the months went by, he accepted numerous promotions and went on to manage two locations. In another moment of need, his Chrysalis Employment Specialist connected him with funds to replace his broken refrigerator.

Robert was eventually referred to a transitional job with Chrysalis Roads. After four short months, he was promoted, and another six months later, he accepted a permanent position with Chrysalis as a supervisor. Today, he supports the business division by filling in to supervise crews that provide landscaping services from the San Fernando Valley to Orange County. When not out in the field, Robert manages logistics and ensures that vital administrative duties are complete.

“I stay positive, I work as hard as I can at my job, and I just try to be the best me I can be.”

Robert’s optimism uplifts those around him. He urges, “Stay positive. Work hard. Be patient. If you’re really dedicated, you’ll get there.” Today, he celebrates five years of sobriety, being present and providing for his son, mother, and family, and continues to impact the lives of those with whom he works.

It’s late afternoon. As the crew comes back together to clock out and say their goodbyes, Robert is approached by the individual from earlier in the day – only this time, they are smiling and encouraged. A brief thank you and a handshake later, Robert heads home to his family knowing that he did his part.

And that is why it’s so much more than a job.

The post Success Bells: Robert first appeared on Chrysalis.

From an early age, Tom had a drive to work, especially on jobs that he could take a step back from at the end of the day and see what he helped make. “[My dad] set me up with some roofers, thinking that they were going to wear me out. Turns out, I liked pushing myself. I also liked having money to go out with my friends without having to ask anybody for anything.”

Despite going on to develop a diverse work history in a number of industries across the country, Tom found himself experiencing homelessness in Southern California in the late 90s. Without a permanent address and with a few arrests on his record, he was met with hesitance from potential employers.

The next few years would see Tom facing a lot of moves and stressful times. He ended up needing to return home to the Midwest to focus on family and later went on to accept a job as a mechanic in Idaho. When he was abruptly laid off, he saw an opportunity to continue in a similar role in Southern California. But just months after moving back, the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down, and Tom was laid off yet again. While confined at home during the safer-at-home orders, he suffered a heart attack, and his health became a top priority. 

Tom had learned about Chrysalis when he lived in Los Angeles years prior through word of mouth. “Chrysalis was understanding.” This recollection led him back to utilizing the organization’s services upon returning to California. But this time, things were a little different as the world was navigating the pandemic. Tom stayed in touch with Chrysalis virtually and eventually re-enrolled in our job-readiness program. Through our COVID-19 Relief Fund, he received gift cards to help cover the cost of groceries and assistance with his phone bill. “It was a really huge help…It would have meant the world if I didn’t have it.” 

With his health in good standing, he connected with staff and volunteers to revise his resume, acquired professional attire for interviews, and was referred to the LA:RISE program, an innovative partnership between nonprofit social enterprises and the City and County of Los Angeles’ workforce development system.

Chrysalis Staffing, a business within our employment social enterprise, connected Tom to a temporary position as a House Attendant with Shutters on the Beach. Quickly recognizing his level of dependability and work ethic, the company offered Tom a full-time job just a few months later.

Tom reminds us that someone’s story isn’t over when they get a job. While he is grateful to have steady income and a roof over his head, he shares that making ends meet in Southern California is hard. “I don’t feel like there’s a solid path to being on solid ground, everything here is shaky. Everything is expensive. To be honest, I feel like everything could collapse at any moment. But I’ll keep holding it together and pushing myself through.”

Tom continues to engage with Chrysalis, including getting his Driver License reinstated with support from the SECTOR program and by referring others to our organization. He advises, “Be careful about how you get stuck in the system. There’s a lot of cracks out there. There’s a lot of places you can get forgotten and lost. Some people are just fine pushing your paperwork to the side. But Chrysalis isn’t one of them. Chrysalis is your best bet to become self-sufficient.”

The post Success Bells: Tom first appeared on Chrysalis.

David Nazar with Sustaining US on KLCS PBS reports on the importance of addressing homelessness and recidivism rates by connecting our Southern California community members to employment opportunities – particularly people who are navigating housing instability, previous justice system involvement, or other barriers to the workforce.

In this episode, Nazar introduces viewers to Chrysalis Supervisors James DeSanto, Monica Francis, and Robert Anderson, each of whom took advantage of Chrysalis’ job-readiness program and transitional employment opportunities as clients and went on to secure permanent positions within our organization’s employment social enterprise. Watch to learn more about how Chrysalis’ programs and services empower Chrysalis clients with the tools they need to get on a pathway to stability, security, and fulfillment in their work and lives.

Sustaining US is a weekly, half-hour TV news and public affairs program airing on KLCS PBS every Wednesday at 10 p.m. (PST) throughout Southern California. Stay tuned for the official airing of the episode.

The post Sustaining US – KLCS PBS: David Nazar Reports first appeared on Chrysalis.