“I was raised in Nassau County and spent a few years growing up in Georgia. I became pregnant with my first child at 16, got married, and by the time I was 20, I was addicted to pain pills. My addiction quickly took over my life. After my first arrest, my husband took custody of our two children, and I spiraled even further — using harder drugs, stealing cars, and getting arrested almost every year.
By 2022, I was homeless and living in a tent in Jacksonville. I had skipped out on the police and felt completely lost. When I found out I was pregnant again, it shocked me. I truly didn’t believe my body could even get pregnant after everything I had put it through. That moment changed everything.
After 20 days of being clean, I turned myself in to the police. I was desperate. I begged the judge to give me a chance — I was willing to do anything not to give birth behind bars. I did spend three months incarcerated while pregnant, but I was released before my son was born. By the grace of God, I was sentenced to three years of probation with supervision fees waived. It felt like a miracle.
After my release, I entered recovery housing at Gateway here in Jacksonville, where I finally got sober and started rebuilding my life. Gateway later referred me to Operation New Hope, which became another turning point for me.”
“When I started Operation New Hope’s Ready4Work program, my resume reflected the chaos of my past — gaps, short-term jobs, and no real stability. I had never held a job for long because everything I did revolved around addiction.
Ready4Work taught me the importance of details — things I had never been taught before. I learned how to write a professional resume, create a strong email and voicemail, present myself professionally, research employers, and prepare for interviews. I learned what it means to be a valuable employee, how to use computers, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Google Sheets, and gained life skills that I still use every day.
“As a new mom, I was determined to do things differently this time. The weekly stipends I received while attending Ready4Work classes went directly toward diapers and wipes for my son. I also met regularly with a therapist through the program, which helped me face my fears around motherhood and work through unresolved trauma from my past. I learned how important it is to ask for help — and that the people supporting you truly want to see you succeed.
What stood out most to me was the staff. They never treated us like ex-felons. They treated us like people — people who were trying to better themselves and build a future.”
“After graduating from Ready4Work, my Job Coach, Mr. Gamble, connected me with Goodwill Industries of North Florida for an interview. I was nervous, but I went in prepared. I was professional and honest about my past, my goals, and my willingness to work hard.
I was hired as a janitorial cleaner, traveling to different locations and deep-cleaning facilities. At the time, Goodwill was expanding its janitorial department, and I was able to grow quickly. I started in July in an entry-level role, and by December, I was promoted to supervisor.
Today, I manage over 40 employees and oversee major contracts with clients like the Florida Theatre, Florida Highway Patrol, and organizations across Jacksonville. The janitorial department has become Goodwill of Northeast Florida’s largest department — and I’m proud to be leading it.”
“No matter where you come from, your past does not define you. Don’t give up. Comfort, stability, and a life you’re proud of are possible — even if it doesn’t feel that way right now. Organizations like Operation New Hope and Goodwill offer resources that can help, but you have to be open to listening, learning, and applying what you’re taught to your own life.
For a long time, I lived with a victim mentality. I never imagined I would experience homelessness, addiction, or incarceration — or that I would find myself pregnant again in the middle of it all. Through everything, God was there. He is what truly changed my life. My son is my motivation, and my family is what drives me to keep going.
Today, my husband and I have our own apartment, and we’re saving to buy a home. I’m working toward earning my GED and continuing to grow in my career. I’ve learned that it’s important to always have goals and something that drives you forward. I now chase my career, certifications, and future the same way I once chased drugs. To change your life, you have to want it — and you have to have something worth fighting for.
Hope, to me, isn’t just a word. It’s a lifeline.
As a seven-time convicted felon who battled addiction and homelessness, there were many moments when I believed my future had already been written. Hope is the quiet voice that refuses to let you stay where you are. Hope is the belief that your past does not have to be your prison. It’s choosing to try again when the world expects you to fail.
Hope looked like taking small steps, making hard decisions, and surrounding myself with people who believed in my potential even when I didn’t. Hope carried me through recovery, through rebuilding my life, and into a future I once thought was impossible.
Every day I walk into work, I’m reminded that hope is real, change is possible, and no one is too far gone. To me, hope means having the courage to believe in a future that looks nothing like your past — and giving yourself permission to become who you were always meant to be.
If my story proves anything, it’s that hope can take you further than fear ever could.”
