Each year, our Better Lives Graduation is one of the moments we look forward to most. Held during Second Chance Month in April, the event celebrates what people can do when they are given a fair chance to walk a new path after incarceration. This year, we recognized 12 individuals who completed our 12-month Better Lives Program over the past year.
Better Lives and Better Leaders
“JBM believed in me before I believed in myself,” Lindsey said as she reflected on her growth.
That simple statement captures the spirit of this celebration better than anything else could.
Over the past three years, we have watched Lindsey grow from a role on our packing and filling team to helping oversee the opening of our new location. This year, she was also one of our team members to complete our Better Leaders Program, developed in partnership with the University of Cincinnati to help team members build the skills, mindset and confidence to lead in a new way.
Stability and a Strong Foundation
During graduation, we also recognized Billy, the first person to complete our Adjuster Training Program within the London Correctional Institution. When he was first hired last year, he spoke candidly about approaching the end of his sentence without housing, transportation or a real sense of stability. In this year’s graduation video interview, he described something very different: confidence, a job, housing and the kind of stability many people take for granted.
As we filmed interviews for this year’s Better Lives graduation video, the same themes kept coming up. Participants used words such as “uncertain,” “unstable,” and “chaotic” to describe life before JBM. They talked about leaving prison without a driver’s license, a car, secure housing or much reason to believe a company would take a chance on them. One graduate shared that after being fired from another job when coworkers learned her history, she was not sure she would ever find employment again.
But they also talked about change.
Positive Change and Possibility
Change was exactly what Stephanie sought when she accepted a position at JBM.
“I spent five years in prison because of my addiction, and I said yes to JBM because I knew that I wanted something different in my life,” she said. “I realized I had to change what I was doing.”
She made such meaningful progress that she was also chosen for the Better Leaders program, graduating from both programs at the same time.
Like Stephanie, many of our graduates talked about having a place where they could work without judgment so they could make a positive change in their lives. They also discussed the importance of life coaching, our Wheels program, and financial guidance. They spoke with pride about sobriety, reconnecting with their children and families, holding a steady job and committing to a life with structure.
One graduate put it simply: “I am most proud of being dependable.”
Another shared, “If I could go back a year, I would tell myself that the impossible isn’t impossible.”
Grit and Growth
Again and again, the same themes surfaced: stability, accountability, confidence and support.
That is exactly what Better Lives is designed to provide.
This program is about helping people identify new goals and standards for their lives, and equipping them with the tools to meet them. We can open the door, but it is up to each person to walk through it and make use of the resources available. As one of our leaders, Tim Aregood, said, “No one’s coming to save them, but they’re going to have the support they need.”
That balance of personal responsibility and meaningful support is at the heart of Better Lives.
Our graduate speaker, Tim Motley, brought that truth to life during this year’s celebration. He spoke with honesty and real perspective, reminding all of us that growth is not easy, but it is worth it.
We are so proud of the graduates we honored this month, the team members who continue to work hard to build better lives for themselves and their families, and the coaches, leaders and partners who walk alongside them.
This is what building Better Lives is all about, and it’s what makes our work so much more meaningful.
Click here to learn more about the Fair Chance hiring program at JBM Packaging.
Interested in starting your own Fair Chance program? Here are seven things to know.