Leaders of A New Way of Life’s Career Bridge Initiative (CBI) honored dozens of men and women graduates who turned challenges into opportunities, demonstrating that second chances create brighter futures.
One of the graduates who took advantage of the second chance in life is Jessica Torres, 30, who completed the eight-week Career Bridge Initiative (CBI) course, which was designed to support people over the age of 18 who are involved in or affected by the criminal justice system.
After falling into addiction at age 16 and subsequently losing custody of two children, Jessica Torres was reborn like a phoenix, and despite her criminal past, she recovered, enrolled in a program, and recently graduated from A New Way of Life Reentry Project’s Career Bridge Initiative (CBI) program.
“I feel committed to my rehabilitation,” said Jessica, 30, mother of little Josephine. “I already managed to have an apartment and a car.”
A New Way of Life, founded by Susan Burton in 1998 and joined by the Life Reentry Project, promotes healing, empowerment and opportunities for formerly incarcerated people.
Women like Jessica were provided with a multifaceted approach to mitigate the effects of having been incarcerated.
Ultimately, the program attempts to eliminate mass incarceration.
“I fell into addiction when I was 16,” says Jessica. “At that time I lost [la custodia de] two children.”
His parents have custody of Isaías, their eight-year-old autistic son, and an aunt has legal care of his three-year-old daughter.
“I fell into depression and anxiety very badly,” he says. “I couldn’t get out of drugs. But now with the grace of God I was able to get out,” he reveals.
During her stay in prison, Jessica became pregnant with her daughter Josephine, and she did not want to lose her for anything in the world. Fortunately, it came out a month before the girl was born. The little one is now two.
“I told myself, all this can’t go on anymore,” she declares. “I couldn’t bear to lose another daughter.”
Jessica started doing what she had to do. He enrolled in the A New Way of Life Reentry Project program and graduated.
Although Jessica did not disclose the reasons or how long she was incarcerated, when she was released she received the news that she would be getting a Section 8 apartment, bought a car, and decided to return to school.
“My life changed completely in five months,” he says in relation to the Career Bridge Initiative (CBI) program of A New Way of Life Reentry Project, which was launched on July 29, 2024, and was developed at the Hidden History Museum, which rescues the history of great figures of African-American culture.
Bernard Wilson, director of the Workforce Development and Education team at A New Way of Life Reentry Project, announced that, to date, 101 individuals have registered for the CBI project, 46 in training; 178 labor certifications were issued: 38 in therapy services and 138 in educational programs.
“We have managed to reincorporate the participants into the labor market,” Wilson told La Opinión.
The eight-week Career Bridge Initiative includes 12 modules that lead to certifications in technology and financial literacy, as they are supported by institutions such as JP Morgan Chase, Homeboy Industries and AT&T.
Cynthia Barrios, 38 years old and mother of six children, shared her experience from being in prison to searching for employment and social reintegration.
“I had problems with addiction and accusations of child abuse,” he said. Her case – which remains open – was turned over to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, at the same time that she is recovering her children, two of whom are in foster care.
“The first few years of life were difficult,” Cynthia said. “I was raised by a single mother who physically abused me. That gave me an unstable childhood. I am in the process of reintegration into my home. I came to this tribute because I was incarcerated.”
In fact, she says that, due to her drug addiction, she was in and out of jail and neglected her children.
“I had a case with DCFS and they charged me with two felony counts of child abuse. So I had a case with DCFS, which has been open since May 2024 and is still open, but I am reuniting with my children,” he reports. “I have completed all my classes thanks to this new way of life. They helped me a lot [en A New Way of Life]. I’m doing very well. I am participating in all kinds of programs. “I just try to do the best I can.”
Of his six children, the oldest, 17 years old, lives with his father. The seven-year-old suffers from autism spectrum disorder. Two live with foster families in Lancaster, California.
“I will join them in January and I am happy, thanks to a new way of life,” she mentions, while hugging her baby, Carmela, with great affection. “At A New Way of Life they are helping me get the services and transportation I need to visit them every weekend.”
Cynthia has begun the road to recovery and has set objective goals for her immediate future.
“I want to work in the healthcare industry as a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse because I am passionate about helping people, especially people with special needs, such as therapy and other activities,” she says. “So that’s where I really want to make my career.”
She is convinced that she does not want to repeat her mother’s pattern of abusive behavior with her children nor for them to suffer abandonment.
“I don’t want to go back on what I’m achieving. I don’t want my children to grow up like my brothers and I. Now I have the obligation to change everything that happened in my life and be an example for my children,” he emphasized.