Prison to Promise

Ep. 53 James Smith: Change Within Your Reach


Listen Later

When James Smith got out of prison in 2016, he was lost. Nobody returned his call when he reached out for help from a re-entry program. So instead, his sister, wife, and church members coached him through the changes he wanted.

"I felt ashamed if I went someplace," he said. "I felt like people would look at me and see a criminal, even if they didn't know me. So it's a miracle really to come out of it."

Today, James works as a Community Inclusion Specialist for the Alliance of Disability Advocates NC, helping other men rejoin the community after incarceration. For example, he talks with them about getting a job and dealing with mental pressure.

"Guys don't go to interviews because they don't feel prepared," he said. "They need encouragement, mock interviews… a step-by-step of how it's going to go."

Tune in as James talks about how he transitioned and some of the keys to helping others.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Prison to PromiseBy Craig A. Waleed