FOLLOW OUR FIRST 2 INMATES WORKING ABT's PROGRAM - PART I

As we complete our final edits on our book and prepare to publish in May, I selected two fellow inmates to be our first participants to read the final draft and work through the A Better Tomorrow (ABT) program—all 270 single-sided pages, including the appendix.

This blog series will focus on their journey—the ups and downs they experience while working on themselves and their future. We also hope to educate readers on what a real-world reentry journey looks like, including their ultimate success in reintegrating and becoming contributing members of society once again.

Honestly, I have been pleasantly surprised—almost stunned—by the positive reception from inmates who have heard about the book and the purpose behind A Better Tomorrow, especially the access to free mentors. They see me writing and typing all the time, but didn’t fully understand the purpose. Now, when someone asks what I’m working on—whether in the chow hall, in line waiting for the bus to South Camp, or even just overhearing a conversation—people often comment on how “cool” the idea of A Better Tomorrow is. The free mentor component, both during incarceration and for up to five years after release, especially resonates. I cannot overstate how strong the demand for help is, and how much this concept is appreciated.

Those conversations, along with having a near-final draft, prompted me to begin identifying a couple of candidates even before we officially publish. My approach was to introduce the opportunity to individuals I believed would be strong candidates, and they immediately showed interest—each for slightly different, but ultimately similar, reasons.

The first participant is Inmate “D” (not his real name), my bunkmate. He is a 34-year-old African American, a first-time, nonviolent offender serving a seven-year sentence for a drug conviction. He is a father of two young children, originally from inner-city Los Angeles, but not affiliated with any gang. He is also a college graduate and a former NCAA Division I football player.

Aside from a brief misunderstanding on my first day—when I took the lower bunk he had expected his friend to receive—we have always maintained a respectful relationship. We share food from time to time, respect each other’s space, and maintain separate friend groups. He is scheduled for release in four months and is motivated to receive as much support as possible, including mentorship and assistance in securing a well-paying job. My impression is that he is mature, deeply cares about his children, understands the challenges ahead, and is committed to becoming a successful parent and provider. He has experienced significant loss, including the passing of his father—who was very important in his life—and, more recently, the tragic death of the mother of his children in a car accident. Despite these hardships, I have high expectations for “D,” not only in completing the ABT program, but potentially as a future mentor and even a contributor to the media side of ABT.

The second participant, “S” (also not his real name), is a 44-year-old who refers to himself as a “homie.” I first got to know him while we were housed in the same unit at a low-security facility, though not on a personal level at the time. He is a nonviolent, repeat drug offender who has spent most of his life in state and federal custody since the age of 18.

He is one of the fortunate few who successfully appealed his sentence, reducing it from 20 years to 12. He is expected to transition to community custody in approximately 15 months. He is especially motivated by a developing job placement partnership we are building with a nationwide staffing firm. The owner—who is currently here—has become a close friend, and through his foundation, is deeply committed to charitable efforts. His access to blue-collar job opportunities within Fortune 500 companies presents a strong pathway for ABT participants (stay tuned—more to come on this partnership). “S” has made the important decision not to return to Los Angeles or his prior environment, and instead plans to live with his mother in Nevada upon release.

We now have two individuals with different backgrounds but similar motivations, and we are beginning their journey through the A Better Tomorrow reentry program. We are excited to pair them with our external mentor team and share their progress as it unfolds.

Stay tuned as we provide monthly updates on their journey with ABT—the successes and challenges they face along the way. We believe this will be one of the most meaningful ways for our audience to learn alongside us as we support our first two participants in building a better future through the A Better Tomorrow book and program.