James’ Story
“It was God who saved me” James loved playing baseball; he excelled at it, too. Almost as much as the game itself, he enjoyed coaching younger kids and helping them develop their skills. So after college, when he failed to be drafted by a professional team, the dream he’d held since childhood was shattered. The […]
Duan’s Story
“The Best Decision of My Life” At 6 years old, Duan saw a man get shot as he got off the school bus. He witnessed another murder at the age of 16. While these events offer graphic insight into the environment where Duan spent his youth – and could easily be blamed for his destructive […]
Sheila’s Story
“It took me losing everything” An only child, Sheila was raised by a single mom who abused alcohol and suffered a string of broken marriages. “There were a lot of people in and out of my life, and a lot of things happened,” Sheila says, “bad things no child should be exposed to or […]
Kie’Arra’s Story
“I had no sense of belonging.” Alone. On her own. With no one to talk to – much less to guide her – Kie’Arra found herself homeless at age 15, after enduring a traumatic childhood. “When I was 6 or 7, my mom was into drugs pretty heavily,” she recalls. “And my dad just […]
Venus’ Story
“I am beautifully and wonderfully made.” Born to a woman barely more than a child herself, Venus enjoyed a happy, if unconventional, upbringing. The young mother and daughter were “adopted” and cared for by an older couple whom Venus lovingly referred to as her foster grandparents. “It was wonderful growing up with them,” she […]
J.B.’s Story
“Without Him, I Have Nothing.” As a young man, raised by his grandmother in Chicago, J.B. understood the bleak outlook for kids in the inner city where gangs, substance abuse and violent crime were prevalent and often the only means of survival. But J.B. saw another alternative: service to his country. “I left Chicago in […]
