At 43, Jared’s entire life has been shaped by both privilege and struggle. He grew up outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in an upper-class family, and by his account, life looked normal and happy: school, family vacations, and the expected milestones. He went to college and earned a bachelor’s degree. But after graduation, the partying continued, and over time it deepened alongside disillusionment and mental health issues he says he did not know how to manage.
Then at 29, Jared was arrested for his third DUI and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
“I had to face myself in a way I hadn’t before,” he said. “Everything that came after was about trying to rebuild.”
Rebuilding proved harder than expected. After his release, Jared spent nearly three years trying to find steady, quality work. He had experience in construction and had laid fiber optics before prison, but the job market was unforgiving. He applied everywhere he could. “I was putting out applications constantly and getting nowhere,” he said. In all, he says he applied for more than 100 jobs.
Eventually, he landed a decent job, however, he relapsed and got off track. He lost his job, then found himself in and out of jail for minor offenses.
He knew that something had to change or he would never live a good life.
For Jared, that turning point came when got out of jail and reached out to the Center for Employment Opportunities in Harrisburg. He began transitional work beautifying roadways around the city, along with practical support: work clothes, travel vouchers, and food stamps. He also met with a job coach every week to search for openings and to strengthen his resume.
CEO paid for Jared to earn a welding certification, too — a credential that expanded his options and helped him think beyond survival toward a career.
From 2023 through 2025, Jared said CEO was his only source of income. “They treated me like a VIP,” he said, adding that the staff was always available to answer questions and help him keep moving forward.
A couple of months ago, that persistence paid off. Jared was hired by a local recycling plant as a shift manager. He says he loves the work and sees it as more than a paycheck.
“My new job feels like a career,” he said. “CEO was integral in making this happen.”
He credits staff members Kareem and Lamont with helping him land the position, but he also points to a larger lesson: recovery rarely happens all at once. “You have to keep plugging away,” Jared said. “You may get turned down 99 times, and then hired at the 100th. Don’t give up.”
Without that support system, he said, he might still be depending on family and lacking the confidence that comes from building something on his own.
