Two years after returning home from incarceration, Sylvester considers himself back on his feet, able to care for his family, and thriving, in part due to the work he has done through READI Chicago.

“There’s a lot of temptation and it takes a strong mindset to stay on track after being released from prison,” Sylvester said. “If people know better, they’ll do better, and READI helped me get to that point.”

Sylvester is hoping to spread good in his community so that others can have the resources that he has benefitted from in his time with READI. Access to resources is a key part of the READI program and helping participants build a stable foundation to support themselves and avoid violence in their communities.

Sylvester is also thankful for is the READI staff’s dedication to ensuring their participants safety. Through regular check-ins and follow-ups, READI staff show up to keep participants engaged and assured that they have a team of people working to keep them out of danger.

Sylvester talked to us about his READI experience, his hopes for the community, and how a change in mindset is helping him navigate re-entry.