Participant Stories

When you grow up as the 13th child in a family of sixteen, life is never quiet. For Harlen, growing up in Albany with a large family of 16 kids meant constant activity, laughter, and love. “It was always busy, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” he said. “Cookouts, holidays, birthdays were always like a festival.”

Every morning at dawn, Felix catches a ride to work with a coworker, hops out of the pick-up truck, and gazes across the 20,000-acre expanse in front of him, in awe of the open land and sheer size of the solar panel farm in Buffalo, New York.

When people talk about Eric, they describe him as a go-getter who brings energy, humor, and a deep sense of connection wherever he goes. A natural people person. But behind his lively spirit is a man who’s overcome more than most. Raised in the projects of Buffalo, New York, Eric grew up watching his mother struggle and endured a turbulent home life with an abusive stepfather. Sports became his outlet — football, basketball, baseball — and a glimpse of what discipline and teamwork could offer.

Sterling came of age in Brooklyn during the storm of the 1980s drug epidemic — a time when life moved fast and turned hard. “People changed,” he says. “Some made it out. Some didn’t.” After losing both parents at a young age, Sterling stepped in to help his grandmother look out for his three younger siblings. He ended up in street life, thinking it was a way out of hardship, but he bumped his head a few times and learned it wasn’t. By 13, he was tagging along with older guys — locally and out of town — pulled into hustles that offered fast money and later served time.

When Jesse rolled into the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in Tulsa behind the wheel of a semi-truck, he wasn’t just showing off a new job but sharing a dream. After earning his commercial driver’s license and securing a position with a major trucking company, Jesse returned to the place that supported the launch of his career. But more than that, he came to thank Katie Garcia, his job coach and retention specialist, with an unforgettable gesture: a ride in his new rig.

At 18, he received his first charge. He didn’t fully understand how deeply that moment would follow him into adulthood. As he tried to move forward in life, one obstacle kept coming back: background checks.

When Anthony thinks about home, he can still picture the haze of the Pittsburgh skyline and smell the faint trace of steel in the air. He grew up in Hazelwood, a neighborhood defined by grit, resilience, and community. “It smelled like sulfur and eggs,” he recalls. “As crazy as it sounds, that smell was comforting to me. I knew I was close to home.”

At 56 years old, Daniel isn’t just driving a semi-truck for a living – he’s steering his life in a whole new direction. A full-time truck driver, a father of two, and a man who has rediscovered purpose and peace in his heart, Daniel can finally say that he’s happier than he’s ever been.

At 35 years old, Cameron has already lived many lives – survivor of childhood trauma, street kid, father, prisoner, and now, electrician. Cameron's story isn’t one of overnight success (his transformation was anything but easy), but with the help of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) and a union mentor, Cameron found more than just a job – he found a career with purpose.

After spending four decades behind bars, Arthur is now living a life he once thought was impossible – one filled with freedom and hope. Released from incarceration just eight months ago, Arthur says that because of support from organizations like the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) and the unwavering love of his wife of 45 years, he now has a fair chance at a good life.

After seven years in prison, Cory returned home to Fresno with little confidence and big responsibilities. But everything changed when he connected with the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO). From transitional work to full-time leadership, Cory’s journey is a powerful example of growth, stability, and the impact of fair chance employment.

After serving time and suffering the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Richard returned home to the Bronx determined to rebuild his life. With the support of reentry programs like CEO and The Fortune Society, he turned a transitional job into a permanent union position, earning the trust of his employers and the pride of his family.