Participant Stories

Meet Blake, the visionary behind No Excuses Initiative and Bosses Building Bosses LLC. His journey from spending 14 years behind bars to leading impactful community programs showcases his relentless spirit and strong will.

Meet Willie, the driving force behind Fedenterprises, the business under which his food truck dreams will take shape. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, into a family of entrepreneurs, Willie was instilled with a strong sense of responsibility and work ethic from an early age. Despite facing hardships and a period of incarceration, Willie turned his life around, inspired by the birth of his daughter, who motivated him to strive for a better future.

Some people like working in customer service, but not Brian. Brian loves it. In fact, it’s his passion. A native of the West Coast beaches, Brian recalls working in customer service since he was 16.

Edris knows the value of being teachable and gaining new skills. Growing up in the projects of Flint, Michigan, his first job was washing dishes in a busy restaurant when he was 16. Edris saw each duty in the kitchen as an opportunity to learn something new.

When Robert stepped out of prison, he had nothing but the clothes on his back. He had no money, no place to live, and no food, but he had one thing that would set him apart from everyone else and possibly save his future – his art.

When mail call came on the U.S. Naval carrier each week, every sailor would get quiet and listen closely for their name being called, hoping that someone from home – a sweetheart, a parent, a friend – would write to them and break the monotony of the six-week voyage to Korea. On one of those days, 18-year-old Michael would get a letter from his mother that would change his life forever.

Anthony is in disbelief. He doesn't understand what has changed since speaking to the landlord on the phone that morning. He’s been living in a transition house for the last nine months, but Anthony only has one week until he has to move out. Then he will be homeless, and he expects his parole officer will certainly violate him.

Abu, the youngest of ten kids raised in Chicago, has never been one to coast through anything in life; when he develops a passion for something, whether it be Scrabble, public speaking, or manufacturing operations, he goes all in. “I was raised to work,” says Abu. “I learned early on that if you are dedicated to something and set goals, then you can succeed.”

The first time David stood on a stage and looked out at an auditorium filled with rambunctious kids, he was 27 and in the custody of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). He was sweating under the bright lights and a little nervous, but David knew he was there for a reason bigger than himself.

“CEO had staff available for anything I needed, but I didn’t ask for much until I had to,” Eddie said. “You can extend a hand to someone, but they still have to do the work. CEO gave me the opportunity, and I took advantage of it and worked hard.”

After returning home from incarceration two years ago, Anthony knew that he needed to work towards a career path if he was going to support his family, so he called the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) after a friend recommended the organization.

Lori doesn’t believe in limitations. She was told that the trucking industry wasn’t for women, so she studied every day until she learned the commercial driver's license test inside and out.