Freedom Forward

Sometimes just being the last man standing is a victory, no matter where that standing is at. A gang member from the notorious streets of Los Angeles California, there was a time in which Eugene "C-Boy" YoungBlood had to consider "being the last man standing" a victory, even if that "standing" meant the rest of his life in prison. After nearly 30 years in prison he has a new goal; impacted by  his mother (who would do 21 years in prison herself), two daughters (who only knew a life with a father incarcerated), and a second chance at life on this side of the fence (outside of prison).

After 29 years in prison, a simple decision,  such as picking out some clothes from the mall, can be overwhelming to the point of paralysis.   

$55 MILLION. To build a company valued at a million is a feat. And yet to build a company worth 55 times that, and to do so in under 3 years is astonishing. This raw, unfiltered view into the life of one extraordinary individual is griping and compelling. Spencer's self-reflection and transparency in its recollection is incredible. 

Disciplinary violation for prison, infraction 710: Acquiring an unauthorized tattoo/piercing/scar, tattooing/piercing/scarring another, or possessing tattoo/piercing/scarring paraphernalia, once would get Nate in trouble. Add to that fact, if he tattooed a man from another race, it would be another type of trouble to ensue from the fellas. Nate stayed disciplined and perfected his craft. He navigated his way through prison politics by rising in rank of his car (prison click, gang, group).

Freedom, his dad passing, and a good woman would change is outlook on it all. This is his story.

As the world watched Michael's life play out on the TV show "Real Prison Housewives", a show he co-stared on while still in prison, he would not let that 15 min of fame go to his head. Instead Michael continued to build his plan for release; but as he tried to get his life on track as a newly licensed real estate broker, he could not anticipate his first client would shoot and take his own life on the day that the house went on the market. Not detoured, he persevered, and now runs two businesses, a household, and is taking the real estate industry by storm. 

Real, raw, authentic. At 35 years old, with half of his life spent behind bars, Marcus "Boobie" White would walk out of prison. A plan, the drive to execute such plan, and perseverance to see it through.

Six months after his release, his world would crumble when his rock, the woman of his life, his mama would pass away. He gave up on everything. His old life called him.

With everything stacked against him, Boobie would show the world how real men talk...with actions. 

Asain-Pacific-Islander (or API) is a name and or term that is well known in the prison system, and now readily in the community. Such might not be so if it wasn't for this man. From the California prison system to Washington State's deathrow, this man would influence and transform how people would do time. Today he continues to influence how people live, but for ways that would amaze you. Walk with me as I interview a good friend down the journey of adolescence, conviction, a higher calling, redemption, and True Freedom.

After nearly ten years in prison, Coy Graham finds his redemption in the mentoring of youth impacted by the system through his position of Vice President of Progress Pushers (a non-profit whose sole purpose is to counteract the negative effects that the system has had upon many families within our country), and through the intentional parenting of what he believes to be his greatest legacy, his three daughters.  

From life without the possibility of parolee to law student. Jeremiah Bourgeois would be sentenced to adult life at the age of 14. Through determination and an extreme amount of patience, today 27 years later, Jeremiah is a law student at Gonzaga, one of the more competitive private colleges or universities in the US. The less traveled road to this destination will have you in ahh.