Kerry wanted to build a future he could be excited about, but facing a four-year sentence on Rikers, he felt like he couldn’t. His facilitator at STRIVE convinced him to try.
Kerry joined our youth program and quickly proved how dedicated he was. He came to class professionally dressed every day and gave it his all during internships and temporary work assignments. Due to his hard work and exceptional growth in character, Kerry’s sentence was reduced from four years to just eight months.
Kerry has now been home for a month. He has a job at Friends of Island Academy, where he refers his clients to STRIVE, saying STRIVE is “the best out there for young adults.” He is taking college courses at Columbia University and creating the future he always wanted for himself—and his five-year-old daughter. He is grateful to STRIVE for never leaving his side and giving him as many chances as he needed to “get it together,” and we are grateful to him for being a great youth ambassador and for remembering us during every step of his path to success.