Richard wakes up each morning and greets the day by getting on his knees and saying a prayer of gratitude. After spending the better part of his life struggling with substance use and cycling in and out of the justice system, he celebrates being free, sober, steadily employed, and embracing all that life has to offer.
“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!