Participant Stories

Terrell's job coaches at CEO connected him with SLA Inc., an advanced training program offering a pre-apprenticeship in landscaping through a local union. An eight-week program that teaches people the ins and outs of their mission to beautify urban areas through hands-on experience and classroom instruction, SLA Inc. helped Terrell become a state-approved and OSHA-certified apprentice, ready and eligible for well-paid union work. And when he completed the program, SLA Inc. recognized his ability and potential by giving him a job.

Just eleven months after his release from prison, Josh is succeeding by sheer determination. He has a full-time job, is enrolled in school with a 4.0 GPA, is sober, and is on a path to helping others. But Josh’s journey has not been easy. “I’ve been working since I was a kid, but when I got out, no one would hire me because of my criminal background, and that made things tough because I didn’t have any family left,” says Josh.

When G’Andre reflects on his childhood, the joyful memories come first—gatherings with family, adventures with friends, and rollercoaster days at Six Flags. Though born in Chicago, he was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, where he once dreamed of becoming a doctor or surgeon who could heal others and provide for his family.

Leon is wholeheartedly committed to building a career in construction. Despite the rigorous demands he faces daily on the job, he continues to push forward. As a newly accepted and paid apprentice with the Buffalo Local 210 Labor Union, Leon trains under the guidance of an experienced journeyman, learning the complexities of both physical and technical labor in real time.

Ashely, a 34-year-old single mother of two boys from Pomona, California, grew up in a typical middle-class family. She was a cheerleader in school and spent summers playing basketball with friends. But returning home from incarceration presented a reality far different from her youth. Reentry was never going to be easy, but giving up was never an option.

At the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), we know that the path home after incarceration is never walked alone—and for many, it’s shaped by the deep, enduring bond between parent and child. This Father’s Day, we asked a few of the fathers in our CEO community to reflect on their experiences.

I had to grow up fast. At 16, I went from playing third base for my middle school team to what we called the Gladiator Camp. We gave it that name because every day felt like a battle. Fighting wasn’t mandatory—but if you backed down, you became prey.

Known affectionately as “Rainbow,” Amy has walked through some of life’s darkest valleys and emerged with clarity, resilience, and a passion for helping others find their light. Originally from Hazard, Kentucky, she now works as a job coach at the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in Cincinnati, where she once stood as a participant herself.

On January 7, 2025, a brush fire fueled by high winds ignited the Eaton Canyon area in Pasadena, California, forcing evacuations and turning entire subdivisions into ash.

The difference between a successful reentry after incarceration and a failed one often lies in the smallest of details: no money for the bus; can’t get work boots; lost birth certificate. These problems are big obstacles for returning citizens that often have no support system, and can be a catalyst for defeat.

In 2023, Clyde was released from Solidad State prison in California after serving 28 years of a 30 years-to-life sentence. He walked out of prison looking for the best way to get back on his feet: a job. But, after nearly three decades of living behind bars, Dudley was on his own and lacked the skills and knowledge most people on the outside take for granted.

Javier never imagined that welding would become his passion. But sometimes, the right opportunities come from the most unexpected places. After completing a drug court rehabilitation program, Javier’s probation officer introduced him to an opportunity that would change his life – a paid welding class.