We share the journey of Josh Rosales, a story rooted in pain, survival, and the power of transformation.
Josh grew up in Montbello, surrounded by challenges most people never have to face. He had his first drink and smoked before the age of ten. By eleven, he was already locked up. Before turning twenty-one, Josh had been shot, stabbed, beaten, and hit by a car, living a life shaped by violence and trauma.
At just 21 years old, Josh was sentenced to life without parole. For years, he believed he would never walk the streets as a free man again. But instead of giving up, Josh chose to change. He educated himself, became an advocate for justice reform, and fought for a second chance, not just for himself, but for others like him.
After 19 years inside, Josh is home. Today, he’s a peer recovery coach and mentor, pouring back into the very community he came from and proving that transformation is real.
Josh’s story is a powerful reminder that no sentence defines your worth, no past determines your future, and change is always possible.