When James first walked into the office, he struggled to make eye contact or speak in full sentences.

After spending most of his adult life incarcerated, including significant time in solitary confinement, navigating everyday life outside of prison was overwhelming. He had been released before and fallen back into the same cycle. This time, he wanted something different. Working with ADVANCE and Golden Sierra’s WIOA Title I program, James began rebuilding his life one step at a time. Staff helped him navigate unfamiliar situations, from completing applications and meeting with service providers to enrolling in college and looking for work.

Over time, James began asking questions for himself, participating more confidently in meetings, and taking ownership of his next steps. In May, Lake Tahoe Community College hired James as a part-time Custodian/Groundskeeper. His work has already caught the attention of the director, who encouraged him to apply for a full-time position. James is now working toward an even bigger goal: earning his Class A commercial driver’s license.

The James who once needed a friend to speak for him is now planning his own future. In his words, he wants to show others leaving incarceration “that there is hope and help and possibilities to break free from them chains once and for all.”