Keonnie Raheem’s journey is the definition of second chances. Hailing from the Forest Houses in the Bronx, Keonnie was charged as a juvenile with multiple homicides in Baltimore and sentenced to two life terms. After serving 31 years in prison, his sentence was reduced under juvenile resentencing, and on March 23, 2023, he walked free.

His reentry wasn’t easy, but Keonnie leaned into every resource he could find—participating in “Lifting Stigma” in Maryland for mental‑health support, then moving back to New York under parole. He’s built a life brick by brick: earning OSHA certification through BroConnect, working in HVAC and at Verizon buildings, and meeting weekly with a therapist to stay grounded. He’s even raising funds to reunite with family, writing his memoir “25 of Life,” and launching a clothing line to amplify his message.

 In this episode of Dog in the Yard, Keonnie opens up about growing up in the Bronx, surviving three decades behind bars, and turning trauma into purpose. Tune in to hear how he’s rewriting his story—one day, one step, one dream at a time.