Oscar missed several pivotal years of his sons’ lives, serving two prison terms that totaled nearly a decade. Coming home was not easy. He faced near-homelessness and struggled to put gas in his car. In fact, he often relied on bus passes from the probation office to travel to job interviews. He simply couldn’t afford the fuel to navigate LA traffic.
Despite the pressure, Oscar remained determined not to let his circumstances define his mentality. "You just keep pushing forward," he says. "You don’t just sit and wait on opportunities; you have to go for them."
And go for them he did.
Growing up in Los Angeles during the 1980s, Oscar was surrounded by gang violence and drug culture. Unlike many of his peers, he sought a different future. He dreamed of joining the military, attracted by the structure and discipline it offered. Life took him down a different road, as it were. Unfortunately, this led him toward having a criminal record. Despite any of that, he never abandoned his core drive. He pursued vocational training and college courses, and today, he is only a few semesters away from completing an engineering degree.
During his incarceration, Oscar didn't just mark time; he prepared. He studied electrical work and mapped out a career path that would offer stability, benefits, and long-term security. By the time he returned to the community, he was ready to work. However, readiness did not guarantee an open door.
Back home, Oscar hit wall after wall. He contacted multiple agencies, asking questions and searching for resources. When he felt his parole officer wasn't sufficiently invested in his progress, he filed a grievance. That tenacity paid off: his new parole officer led him to the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO).
When Oscar arrived at CEO, he didn't come empty handed . He brought his education, his goals, and a relentless work ethic. Through CEO, he participated in paid transitional work, receiving resume assistance and cognitive behavioral training. The immediate income helped him survive. In turn, the paid work provided something far more valuable: recent, verifiable experience.
His tasks—preparing equipment, working in a crew, following safety procedures, and completing physically demanding outdoor assignments—were not just "temp work." They were the building blocks of a career.
While at CEO, Oscar saw an opportunity with the California Department of Transportation. He wasn't sure if a state department would consider him, but he refused to let doubt stop him. "I just tried," Oscar recalls. "I put it in God's hands and believed that if it was meant for me, the door would open."
He realized that the daily responsibilities of his CEO work crew were almost identical to the duties required by the state. When he filled out his application, he treated his transitional work like the professional experience it was. "The work is identical," Oscar says. "I just copied the skills I learned at CEO and pasted them onto my application." He also received valuable help from counselors at CEO who helped him with his resume building.
His strategy is a blueprint for others. The transitional jobs that CEO provides their work crew participants are transferable in many areas: maintenance, landscaping, and directly in crew-based labor. These experiences can be utilized for state departments such as transportation, city and county public works , parks and recreation , highway maintenance , sanitation and environmental services, utility and infrastructure contractors, to mention some.
After four months working and learning at CEO, Oscar secured the position with the government at the state department of transportation. It provided dignified pay and health insurance. Today, his days are spent on highway maintenance—clearing debris, repairing guardrails, and supporting infrastructure projects. His workday begins early, coordinating with his crew to prepare equipment. They do this in order to ensure the safety and functionality of the state's roads.
The position provided more than a paycheck; it offered a future. "When I was able to solidify my job with the Department of Transportation, I said, ‘Thank you, God,’” Oscar remembers. “This is the rest of my years. This is my retirement.”
For the first time since returning home, he felt able to breathe.
Oscar didn’t stop there. He is currently pursuing his Class A commercial driver’s license to qualify for higher-ranking positions within the department. He also makes a point to mentor others at CEO, explaining the application process and showing them how to translate their current work into a career. "I always tell the guys, 'Don't look at this crew as just a way to make ends meet,'" he shares. "Look at it as the first line on your resume for a government job. You are building your future right now."
Oscar’s progress reached its emotional peak at his son’s high school graduation. After missing years of his son’s life, Oscar was not only present for the milestone but also able to contribute financially toward his son’s first car.
"To a lot of people, that’s not much," Oscar says, his voice softening. "But to me, it was everything. It was the moment I realized I had finally made it back."
He remembered the days of riding buses and pinching pennies for gas. Oscar knew exactly what that vehicle meant—it meant his son could get to work without the struggle that had defined Oscar’s own youth.
Oscar’s journey proves that reentry is not about waiting for the world to accept you; it is about proving your worth through persistent action. He encourages others not to isolate themselves. "You are more than worthy of these opportunities," he says. "Don't hide away. Reach out, stay connected, and never give up. Keep pushing forward."
For Oscar, every closed door became a reason to search for another entrance—and every open door is now an opportunity he holds open for the person coming behind him.
