A Portrait of Success

Tyron with his happy client.

Growing up, my life was good. My mom kept us together, working as a maid. She was a strong woman. But it all went downhill when she suffered her second massive stroke. At the time I was in 10^th grade.

Then my big brother went to jail. His bail was low and I needed to get him out. My little brother and I needed clothes. So I had to step up. For six months I tried to get jobs at places like McDonald's while going to school. None of that worked, and it wouldn't have been enough anyway. So I went to the street.

I'd hustle after school and sell drugs. My sister would take the money and buy food and clothes. I was business-minded. In no time, I was doing very well.

Then everything changed. I got caught. I was 14 years old and spent 16 months as a youthful offender. I came home thinking I was the big man on campus because I just did time. Then I played for bigger stakes, for more money. I probably made $3,000 a night. Then I got caught again.

But this time when I went to jail it wasn't a joke. This was the animal life, stabbing, cutting. First medium security, then maximum. I met the big drug dealers inside. Drugs were all I knew when I came home. I dealt drugs and got caught again.

What made me wake up was I got tired of losing everything. So I went to a drug program, where somebody told me about HOPE. I said I'm going to give it a try. At first, HOPE was ready to kick me out. I came in here straight-up hood, my aura was too street. But my teacher just got under my skin somehow. She saw another person. I just stuck in there.

Resumes, interviews, computers - they were all things I thought I'd never learn. It was a beautiful new world. The people around me, they were feeling where I was and were really trying to help me. I needed that. I saw everything was legit at HOPE - everybody was sincere.

After two months of sending out resumes, I got a part-time job doing maintenance in a courthouse. It paid minimum wage. I needed work experience - it was something I had to do. Work started at 4pm, so in the morning I went to HOPE to look for another job. I found a job as a dishwasher, making $8.50 an hour. I stayed there till HOPE helped me find a job with a cabinet maker, where I still am, two years later.

I could pay my rent and bills, but I needed to start saving for my future. HOPE helped me find a job on Sundays at an animal clinic. I have a lot of energy and don't want to be home watching TV. Who'd want to sit in a house when you can be out earning a living?

A New Country, A New Life

Ana graduated from HOPE in October 2007.

Ana holds a law degree from Universidad del Norte and worked as a law clerk for the Superior Tribunal in Colombia. In 2001 she and her husband moved to New York City. Because she did not speak English, her options for work were limited. Over the next five years as she became the mother of two lovely children, she took odd jobs as a waitress, a childcare provider, and a Spanish tutor.

In 2006, with her legal paperwork in order, her children a little older, and more confident about her English, Ana was ready to pursue a career in law. However finding employment in the legal field proved difficult. "It's not easy to go from a career in one country to that same career in another. The job culture is totally different; the ways of applying and interviewing are different....and having a lack of experience in the US market was very hard." Ana had many interviews over a six month period, none of which went well. Potential employers tested her on her writing abiltiy and complained about her accent.

Disheartened, Ana came to HOPE.

At HOPE, Ana improved her English. "I had insecurities about my language, especially my writing. HOPE was perfect in helping me...I had people supporting me and helping me improve." With HOPE's help, she secured an internship at a law firm. "It opened doors to other opportunities. I got experience working in the US and was able to network - knowing people in the legal field is so important." When she was not at her internship, she was in HOPE's computer lab searching for jobs. "I had two kids at home, so I was very motivated to come to HOPE and prepare for work. I studied all day and I felt like I was becoming job-ready."

Today Ana is an administrator at a nonprofit that provides free legal representation for children with special needs. Within the next two years, she plans to become a licensed attorney in New York.