WITHOUT DIRECTION Greg grew up in a broken home. His father was incarcerated when Greg was only two, and his mother struggled with drug addiction. With no one to hold him accountable or point him toward something better, Greg found direction in the streets. He spent nights tagging, partying, and...
PROTECTING OTHERS Steve was raised by a single mother who struggled with a crack cocaine addiction. He moved between Fresno and Madera, living wherever a relative would take him in. His mother’s pimps brought dangerous people into their home. Steve would lie awake at night to keep his...
CHILD OF CHAOS Gilbert’s life commenced amidst chaos and strife. Born in Palm Springs to young teenage parents, his early years were characterized by instability, heartbreak, and abuse. After his parents parted ways when he was eight, his anger intensified. He witnessed addiction, toxic...
For years, Jose was known simply as “Baby Dad”—a nickname that stuck because his older brothers were in the program first. Today, that nickname has been replaced by a new title: Hope Now Graduate. FOUNDATION OF TURMOIL Jose’s early life was marked by instability and painful revelations. He was the...
FORGED IN THE STREETS Growing up as the only boy with four sisters and a single mom in South Central Los Angeles, Larry carried the burden of being the protector. Without a father, the pull of the streets was powerful and swift. Local gangs offered a twisted sense of security and belonging that...