While still incarcerated, Jerry participated in outreach programs where he shared his story with young people, encouraging them to make positive choices. The experience sparked his passion for peer support and helping others.
“That was my dream job when we were incarcerated,” he said. “We would talk to young people as early as grade school, high school, and there were even some college classes. That was something that I looked forward to and always enjoyed. One of the ways I planned to give back was to help educate and help young people understand that a few bad decisions could have disastrous consequences.”
As Jerry approached his release date, he set his sights on working for Goodwill Kentucky to help others who were facing similar challenges. Fortunately, Goodwill’s Aspire program launched at his facility just before his release. Aspire offers job training and support services to individuals before and after they leave incarceration.
“The things that the Aspire program offered felt too good to be true,” he said. “Because (the staff) had all been there before. They all had second chances. It was real to see someone coming to prison who had already done 15 years, and they had gotten out and began to be successful.”
Through the Aspire program, Jerry gained essential digital literacy and soft skills training. He started his journey with us as a material handler at a retail store. But once he began sharing his story, a new opportunity emerged. Rena Sharpe, Goodwill Kentucky’s chief operating officer, recognized his potential and encouraged him to pursue a role supporting clients through our young adult services.
“I feel blessed,” he said. “When someone asks me how I’m doing, I have to be careful about telling them how well I’m doing, because I will start crying. It’s not just a job—it’s a calling.”
Today, just a year and a half after completing a 37-year prison sentence, Jerry is living out the goal he set while incarcerated—giving back as a team member at The Spot: Young Adult Opportunity Center. He recently celebrated another milestone: marrying his fiancée, who moved from Australia to build a new life with him in Kentucky.
“Blessing after blessing,” he said. “Goodwill is more than just a job. It’s a family. I’ve told everyone: I’m not leaving Goodwill until they put me in the ground.”