At age 55, Robin Pettigrew has found his passion in life. Working for Centers for New Horizons (CNH), READI Chicago’s Englewood transitional jobs partner, he helps young men change the trajectory of their lives as a READI crew chief.
But according to Robin, life would have turned out much differently had he not had such a strong support system to rely on when he returned home after spending a decade incarcerated. Through READI, Robin is trying to be that support system for others.
“Working for READI and CNH is so much more rewarding than other jobs I’ve had,” Robin said. “I have access to a lot of people’s lives on a daily basis, to show them that change is possible. These guys see me working with them every day—I’m not just preaching to them, but showing them how I overcame my own challenges, so they know they can, too.”
Robin’s progress is thanks in large part to the time he spent studying, earning his GED and taking business classes and certifications while incarcerated. He was prepared and ready for employment upon release, and he advises other returning citizens to do the same—focus on education and realistic goal setting. He also encourages them to rebuild their support systems as early as possible.
“The biggest hurdle I faced after incarceration was trying to find a way to apologize,” Robin said. “I had to get to know my brothers as grown men. I had to show my children I was still their father. I had to show my loved ones through my actions that I wasn’t going to be leaving them again.”
READI relies heavily on the expertise of staff with lived experience who are from the communities they serve. Like Robin illustrates, we recognize that violence and incarceration don’t only affect individuals—they cause ripples through families and communities. Without community-based organizations with longstanding neighborhood ties, like CNH, offering family and community supports to stop the cycle of violence and incarceration on the South and West Sides would not be possible.
CNH Executive Director Christa Hamilton understands this firsthand. In 2014, her 21-year-old nephew, an Englewood resident, was shot and killed. As the leader of a 49-year-old community cornerstone organization, Christa felt a responsibility to adapt CNH services to be at the forefront of violence prevention and intervention.
“Being a READI partner meant that we could deliver the services that we already offered—transitional jobs, supportive services, and counseling—at an extremely higher dosage,” Christa said. “The unique approach of targeting not only the victim but also the perpetrator of violence is closely connected to our organization’s mission to support the entire community.”
Three years into the READI initiative, Christa said it is still exciting to support individuals like Robin who are using their lived experience as an asset to change the trajectory of people’s lives.
“I really see READI as a stepping stone for our young men to enact real change in their lives,” Robin said. “Every day I wake up thankful to be in a position to share what I’ve learned and lead by example.”
Read more about how Robin has become a support system for READI participants.
