Voices of Hope – Shane H.
Despite the current crisis facing our world, nothing can dim the light shining in Shane Hutto’s smiling face. Full of hope, Shane recently began pursuing a lifelong goal and enrolled in an IT program to earn his A+ certification. He said it’s “great to have motivation again!” Shane spent much of his 20’s in what […]
Voices of Hope – Tracey F.
Tracey Fisher was in her early 40’s and had a successful career but got caught up in drugs and ended up behind bars. “Even when I tried to turn my life around, my past just kept pulling me back down. Jail took something from me and left me with hopelessness, insecurity and shame.” “But Operation […]
Voices of Hope – Erica J.
After serving time for a felony fraud conviction, Erica Jackson worried that she would never find work in an industry other than fast food service. She began to believe that no one would trust her again. However, those concerns diminished after entering the Ready4Work program. “The program taught me a lot – from being on […]
Voices of Hope – Anthony B.
Following a devastating personal blow in his early twenties, Anthony Bryant began drinking recklessly and was charged with a DUI. As a result, he lost his job driving as a street sweeper. Feeling lost and defeated, Anthony was referred to Operation New Hope by his probation officer and enrolled in the Ready4Work program in November […]
Voices of Hope – Terrance P.
After serving a 20-year sentence for attempted robbery with a firearm, possession of cocaine, and aggravated battery, Terrance Platts came to Operation New Hope through the Ready4Release pre-release services at Baker Correctional. However, Terrance’s transition to the outside world was not easy. Modern advances such as computers, flash drives, tablets, and search engines were foreign […]
Voices of Hope – Charlotte S.
In 2000, Charlotte Smith was indicted on drug charges by the federal government and served five years . “When you’re in prison, the first thing you do is go through a phase of playing the innocent role. ‘I didn’t do it. I’m here wrongfully.’” She paused, laughed, and shook her head before conceding, “Some are […]
Voices of Hope – Crystal C.
Incarcerated at 17 years old for a term of 35 years, Crystal Chisholm recalls the day of her sentencing as her life’s defining moment. “I didn’t know what to do. I thought my life was over.” But the light that shines within Crystal was bright enough to illuminate even her darkest days. “Going in, I […]
Voices of Hope – Leroy L.
Recalling the day he was sentenced to 25 years in prison, Leroy Lyles remembered feeling like the tunnel ahead of him was so long and dark and he could barely see a pin-prick of light at the end. At his lowest point, when no one was visiting him in prison or sending any letters, he […]
Voices of Hope – Raymond G.
On a rainy morning in April, Raymond Garber beamed with light as he listed the succession of recent job offers he’s received from the many upscale restaurants looking to hire him. With so many opportunities available, it’s hard to imagine that just a few months ago he was incarcerated. “It’s because I was given a […]
Voices of Hope – Lee L.
One of the early graduates of Operation New Hope’s Ready4Work program, Lee Livingston completed the program in 2007. As a young man, Lee experienced many interventional programs designed to help troubled youth, but remembers that “Operation New Hope was the only one that made the difference.” After receiving the job and life skills training and […]