Aaron Rose’s Full-Circle Journey of Transformation, Leadership, and Empowerment

Aaron Rose’s journey is one of full-circle transformation. Growing up in San Diego, the Navy veteran later found himself bouncing in and out of prison for years after returning from deployment in Afghanistan with a severe case of PTSD that led him down a dark path.

“I found myself in a dark place and reached an emotional and spiritual crisis that, looking back, inspired me to change my life around,” says Aaron, 54.

His path led him to Five Keys Schools and Programs—not just as a participant in their Transitional Employment and Reentry Program, but eventually as a leader shaping its future. Drawing from his lived experience, Aaron has dedicated his career to helping others reclaim their lives through meaningful work, education, and second chances.

As Program Manager at Five Keys’ Transitional Employment in San Diego, Aaron oversees job training, placement, and reentry support for underserved communities, including veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, and youth in transition. The program is part of the Community Action Partners Alliance (CAP), a partnership across Southern California, of organizations that provide education, housing, drug treatment, expungement, job development and a myriad of resources that help returning citizens as they adjust back into the community.

In 2024, Aaron and the Five Keys’ team in San Diego were nominated “Veteran Business Resource Provider of the Year” award for their work with connecting veterans and justice-involved community members with vital resources, offering invaluable career advice, and providing essential emotional support to help them successfully transition back to civilian life through the Back2Work program.

Here Aaron in his own words shares how his leadership is rooted in empathy, purpose, and the belief that no one should be defined by their past. Aaron’s work is more than professional—it’s personal. His story is a testament to resilience and the power of purpose-driven service.

Paths of Purpose: A Memoir

By Aaron Rose

From the beginning, my life has been about transformation—both my own and that of the communities I’ve been blessed to serve. Growing up in San Diego, I always had a sense that purpose was tied to service, though it took time—and trial—to discover exactly what that looked like.

My professional journey has been rooted in a desire to create systems of support for people who have often been overlooked: justice-impacted individuals, youth in transition, and those navigating the rocky paths of recovery. The work wasn’t just a job—it was a calling.

When I stepped into the role of Program Manager at Five Keys Transitional Employment, I wasn’t stepping into a title—I was stepping into a mission. Managing job training and placement for underserved populations meant more than logistics; it meant being a steady hand for people trying to find footing. I led a team of over 70 staff, built systems for invoicing for monthly services, upheld safety with education and training and developed workshops that reached crowds of more than 100 participants at a time. But behind every statistic was a story—someone ready to rewrite their own.

My role evolved. I began consulting with San Diego County, advocating for alternatives to incarceration—because I believe no one should be defined by their worst mistake. We built programs that leaned into rehabilitation over punishment and emphasized the humanity in second chances.

Before management, I was on the front lines. As a Transitional Coordinator, I worked side by side with those walking through some of life’s darkest corridors. I administered employment coaching, soft skills, substance abuse education, and cognitive behavioral therapy workshops—tools that turned setbacks into setups for change.

In my earlier days as a Crew Supervisor for justice-involved youth, previously incarcerated adults, and veterans, I showed up daily with my boots and a heart full of intention. We assessed worksites, ran safety briefings, and took pride in what we were building—pride, dignity, and skills for a future reimagined.

Over the years, I’ve invested in sharpening my own tools: earning certifications in Peer Support, OSHA compliance, leadership and development training, substance use disorder training, and more. But my greatest lessons didn’t come from classrooms—they came from conversations. They came from hearing someone say, “No one ever believed in me before,” and realizing I had the chance to change that.

This memoir isn’t just a reflection—it’s a reminder. That leadership means listening. Those programs need passion as much as they need process. And that the most powerful transformations often begin with the quiet courage to try again.

This is my journey—a journey of building bridges, removing barriers, and believing fiercely in the possibility of change.

From Darkness to Redemption: The Journey of Yadira Onefre

Ya Ya and Susan Bustamante at Home Free

When Yadira “Ya Ya” Onefre looks in the mirror today, she sees someone she never imagined she could become — a successful mission-driven 38-year-old with a career advocating and providing care for the unhoused in San Francisco. 

But behind her composed presence and warm smile is a painful past shaped by the trauma of abuse, tragedy, and ultimately, transformation. Yadira spent 13-and-a-half years behind bars in the California Institution for Women prison in Corona, CA and lost custody of her daughter permanently for a crime she did not commitment, but witnessed and failed to speak up.

“For years, I kept asking myself, ‘Why me?’’’ Yadira, now 38 says. “Why did I survive? Why did I let myself stay silent?”

To this day, she does not know the answer. But she does know that she is passionate about her role “helping others who don’t have a voice,” at a Five Keys shelter for the unhoused, Site 34, 685 Ellis Street, a former hotel, now transformed into a shelter for the unhoused.

After being released from prison, she spent months living at Home Free, a San Francisco-based transitional housing center on Treasure Island, and a trauma-informed reentry program for criminalized survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. She recently moved into an apartment, the first in her life, just blocks from the shelter. She’s also enrolled in Five Keys charter schools’ program, studying for her GED. College is next on her bucket list.

Shortly afterwards, Yadira was hired at the shelter as an ambassador and today works full-time, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. as care coordinator at the Five Keys transitional housing shelter checking in on the guests, making sure they are safe, fed, and offering a listening ear to those who often feel the destitution, hopelessness, and despair that once haunted her night and day.

“So many of these people face such hopelessness fighting addiction, poverty, and all kinds of challenges,” says Yadira. “I try to meet them where they are. And when I say I can understand their pain, I do. When I was in prison, all I could think is ‘I’m a lifer. This is it.’ I never believed there would be any hope, but look at me now.”

The Journey from Darkness to Redemption: That Was Then

Yadira was just 17 when she met the man who would alter the course of her life. At first, he seemed protective, older, and experienced — but it wasn’t long before his charm dissolved into control, isolation, and abuse. By 18, she was a mom and a drug user. By the time she realized how deeply trapped she was, it felt too late to escape. Then came the worst day of her life — and the beginning of a years-long journey toward redemption.

At the center of the case that would make headlines and sentence her to 19 years to life in prison without parole, was a five-year-old girl’s — her boyfriend’s daughter — who died as a result of his severe abuse. She was considered an auxiliary because though Yadira did not inflict the injuries herself, she was arrested, and later convicted for failing to report them. The law held her responsible for what she didn’t do — report.

That Was Then, This is Now

Prison, strangely, became the place where she began to heal. It was there, behind bars, that she was befriended by another inmate — Susan Bustamante,  who offered kindness without condition. That relationship planted the seed of hope.

“Susan gave me strength,” says Yadira. “She pulled me up. She told me my life wasn’t over," Yadira says. “And for the first time, I started to believe her.”

A Latina mother from East L.A., in many ways she saw Yadira’s pain, a mirror to her own — sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Susan was convicted of helping her brother kill her husband. The court claimed it was for a $50,000 insurance payoff. But Susan tells a different story. She recounts years of beatings, threats, abuse, chokings, humiliation and anguish, in between intense good times and the birth of two children.

“I remember seeing Ya Ya for the first time, this baby lifer, and thinking she is a younger version of me,” says Susan, who was released in 2018 and today is a reentry coach for Home Free.

When Yadira’s sentence was commuted, Susan was waiting to drive her across the state to Home Free.

“Ya Ya is one of the most determined, kind-hearted persons who wants to do right in the world and who wants to reach back and help others who are suffering,” says Susan.

For Susan and Home Free, Yadira says she will be eternally grateful.

It was the Five Keys Home Free transitional housing program that gave her a place to start again. “They didn’t just give me a roof,” she says. “They gave me a sense of possibility.”

 “I know what it’s like to be lost,” she says. “I also know what it’s like to find your way back.”

Today, she’s reunited with her family — something she once feared might never happen. There are still moments when the weight of the past knocks the wind out of her. But there are more moments now when she feels whole.

“I’ll always carry the sorrow of what happened,” Yadira says. “But I’m trying to honor that little child’s life by living mine differently — with purpose.”

Ya Ya and Susan Bustamante inside Home Free

Inside and Out: Navigator Paves a Path of Hope and Transformation for Prisoners Reentering Society

Patrick Bayona and Joe Durant at the Five Keys 21st Anniversary Celebration

In his almost 14 years with Five Keys, Joe Durant has seen thousands of lives transformed—but few encounters impacted him as deeply as the day he first met Patrick Bayona. At the time, Joe was serving as the College Transition Manager, providing one-on-one educational case management to help students pursue college while still incarcerated. That’s when he met Patrick in the Reentry Pod at San Francisco County Jail 2—one of just ten men classified as violent offenders in the unit. Patrick was surviving the only way he knew how: through art. His drawings weren’t just creative expression—they were his lifeline, a way to reclaim identity and hope behind bars.

Joe was struck not just by the raw talent in Patrick’s pencil sketches, but by the resilience behind them. “I saw someone who just needed a hand in the right direction,” Joe recalls. And that’s exactly what he offered. Alongside other Five Keys educators, Joe became a steady source of encouragement, helping Patrick take his first steps toward something better when he was released from jail in 2022, connecting him with the opportunity to pursue his artistic talent.

Fast forward to Spring 2025.  Joe, 38, is now Assistant Director of Grants and Development. He happened to be visiting the Five Keys’ Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center, and much to his surprise was reunited with Patrick. Patrick boasted about his upcoming graduation from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and his post as Activities Coordinator for the Navigation Center.

Thanks to the support of Joe and the broader Five Keys team, Patrick was awarded a full-ride scholarship to an art academy, made possible through a Five Keys partnership. The scholarship was contingent on Patrick’s success in completing a semester at Laney College in Oakland—a challenge he met with a 3.5 GPA.

“It was one of those moments where you realize—wow, what we’re doing really matters. It’s changing lives,” says Joe. “One of the most meaningful parts of my job is hearing our clients’ stories and helping them navigate systems that can feel impossible—financial hurdles, legal barriers, even the countless fees just to register for basic services. Parole paperwork, for example, has been shown to be more difficult to understand than a New York Times article, often leading to violations simply due to misunderstandings—violations that can send someone back to prison. My role is to walk alongside them, guide them through the process, and be their advocate.”

Navigating New Pathways

The dictionary defines a navigator as “a person who directs the route or course of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transportation, especially by using instruments and maps.”

To say that Joe is a navigator extraordinaire for the incarcerated and prisoners dreaming and then transitioning to re-entry is to understate.

“I cannot imagine the odds stacked against them,” says Joe. “In my current role I’m not behind the scenes in the jails as I used to be, but when I was there, I felt it was so important to be real with the clients. My job was to stand by their side to walk them through all the barriers and obstacles.”

To that end, as a navigator for currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, Joe is a member of a network of change makers who are offering a promising approach to improving reentry outcomes. By providing personalized support and connecting prisoners with educational and vocational resources, Joe and other navigators play a critical role in reducing recidivism and helping ex-offenders successfully reintegrate into society.

Studies have shown that having a navigator can significantly improve the outcomes for ex-offenders. A study by the Urban Institute found that participants in a navigator-guided reentry program were more likely to be employed and less likely to be rearrested compared to those who did not receive such support.

Determined to Right Wrongs

Joe’s journey to becoming one of the most trusted figures in the fight for incarcerated individuals’ rights and opportunities didn’t start with a grand vision—it started with a deep curiosity and a fierce drive to right the wrongs he saw within the justice system.

His path to his current role in Development—where he works tirelessly to secure funding for Five Keys’ programs—began in his early collegiate years, shaped by both academic and personal experiences that ignited his passion for advocating for those impacted by incarceration. From college criminal justice studies to groundbreaking reentry programs, Joe's commitment to breaking the cycle of incarceration is a mission that has shaped his adult life.

While studying Criminal Justice at California State University, Chico, Joe dove headfirst into hands-on work through the Community Legal Information Clinic (CLIC)—one of the oldest undergraduate legal clinics in the country. It was here, as a paralegal intern in the Penal Law Project, that Joe began making visits to CDCR Solano, providing free legal information to incarcerated individuals. These early experiences opened his eyes to the systemic issues within the criminal justice system, particularly the racial inequities deeply embedded in California’s carceral policies.

“I saw how inefficient the system was and it just drove my passion to make change,” says Joe.

For Joe, the academic course Corrections acted as a critical turning point. It was in these classrooms and through his interactions with those on the inside that Joe solidified his commitment to becoming a voice and a resource for those impacted by the system. His experience with CLIC also fueled his desire to tackle the broader social issues of policy and systemic change. As he pursued his Master’s in Public Administration, Joe deepened his understanding of how political systems perpetuate cycles of injustice, culminating in a graduate thesis on corruption in California’s initiative process.

Joe’s path took a significant turn after graduate school when he joined the San Francisco Adult Probation Department, where he worked with clients in the Learning Center, helping them complete their high school diplomas and GEDs. It was here that Joe first connected with Five Keys, eventually beginning his work teaching independent study and digital literacy classes in San Francisco’s jails.

His role soon expanded into school administration, where he led efforts to overhaul Five Keys’ outdated transcript request system, improving access and efficiency for students and staff. He later served as the Transition Coordinator for Special Education, where he helped design and guide transition plans within students’ IEPs, ensuring connections to higher education, apprenticeship programs, and employment preparation services.

Joe and Steve Good, President and CEO of Five Keys, holding a proclamation from the Mayor of San Francisco declaring Five Keys Day at the 20th Anniversary Celebration.

Joe’s work within Five Keys expanded further when he became the College Transition Manager, leading efforts to build educational pathways for incarcerated students. His leadership in bringing college coursework into County Jail 5 and 2 helped numerous individuals earn up to 12 college credits per semester. His contributions extended beyond the jails when he played a pivotal role in connecting justice-impacted students to post-secondary retention programs, ensuring they had support networks that spanned the Bay Area. These efforts contributed to the creation of reentry pathways and opportunities, setting up incarcerated individuals for successful reintegration into society and success in higher education.

Despite these successes, Joe's work isn’t limited to just education—he has been a tireless advocate for reentry services. He was deeply involved in providing services for “A-Pod” (also known as the Reentry Pod), a reentry-designated housing unit at County Jail 2, aimed at providing wraparound services and close collaboration with probation officers to ensure successful reentry. Joe’s approach was holistic—offering job readiness training, digital literacy skills, and college enrollment and retention support, all geared toward helping individuals build a strong foundation for their future.

When the pandemic reshaped the world, Joe adapted quickly, transitioning into Development and Fundraising. In his current position as the Assistant Director of Government and Foundation Grants, he continues to channel his years of experience into securing funding for programs aimed at breaking the cycle of incarceration. His efforts have resulted in multi-million-dollar contracts that support Five Keys' expanding network of services, including educational programming, supportive housing, reentry services, and workforce development for justice-impacted individuals. Having worked directly with students and clients, Joe knows firsthand that the most powerful way to connect with funders is by sharing the real stories of transformation happening in the field—stories that illustrate not just need, but impact.

Believing in Second Chances

At his core, Joe’s work is driven by the belief that everyone deserves a second chance—and sometimes a third, fourth, or more. In California, nearly 4 in 10 people released from prison or jail are reconvicted within three years, underscoring the urgent need for sustained support and multiple opportunities for success. He has seen firsthand how systemic inequities—such as racial discrimination, over policing of marginalized communities, underfunded education systems, and a lack of economic and educational opportunities—stack the odds against incarcerated individuals. This deep sense of injustice fuels his passion for systemic change and his commitment to the mission of Five Keys: education, employment, recovery, family, and community. Joe’s role has helped break down the barriers that many incarcerated individuals face, opening doors to new opportunities and new lives.

Now, as Assistant Director of Grants and Development, Joe is not just navigating the path of reentry for others—he’s paving the way for an entire community of justice-impacted individuals to thrive. His work stands as a testament to the transformative power of education and the belief that everyone, no matter their past, deserves a chance to succeed.

Away from work, Joe lives in Chico with his wife, Maggie, and their Chihuahua, Hazel. He and Maggie first met while attending California State University, Chico, where they both graduated and remain proud alumni. There, the trio spend days hiking, attending concerts, and traveling. Plans are already underway for Joe’s 40th birthday in December 2026, with Maggie organizing a destination celebration abroad.

Maggie, Joe, and Hazel

“I feel very blessed to be part of the solution—and to play a role in helping others transform their lives. They’re the ones doing the hard work to rewrite their stories; we just help set the stage for their success. I have a lot to be grateful for and celebrate,” says Joe.

Passports to the Future: Five Keys Educator Pulls from His Own Experience to Inspire Others to Change Their Lives

View fullsize

Timothy presented at the Five Keys 2023 NorCal Graduation Ceremony

On a sunny April afternoon in Menlo Park, CA, Timothy Long was seated at his desk when a student unexpectedly stopped by.

“Hey dude, I’m glad you came by—I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all day,” Timothy said with a big smile. “We’re going to get you your high school diploma. There was a mix-up with some paperwork, but I got it taken care of. YOU ARE GRADUATING—and you’ll be at the ceremony. Congratulations!”

“Thank you. Thank you so much,” the student said, his face lighting up.

Timothy, now 54, knows that feeling all too well. The words “You are graduating” carry a weight that he understands deeply. At just 19 years old, Timothy was sentenced to four consecutive life terms in California for crimes he committed as a teenager. He would spend 26 years incarcerated. But even behind bars, he held onto one unshakable truth: education was his key to transformation.

“I knew I had to change,” he says. “Education became my path to mental freedom and personal success—even if I never saw freedom outside of prison.”

After earning his high school diploma while incarcerated, Timothy didn’t stop. He launched a GED program at San Quentin and began tutoring others. Over time, he earned three associate degrees—in general education, business, and science—and a Specialist I and II certification in Alcohol and Drug studies. He also helped co-found a college program inside Ironwood State Prison. His educational journey included Mt. Tamalpais College at San Quentin, Palo Verde College, and Coastline Community College.

Hard Work, Dedication, and the Drive to Change

Eventually, the parole board took notice.

“I was lucky,” Timothy reflects. “The parole board saw that I was not the same kid who committed those crimes over a quarter century ago. They also recognized that I chose the education route to change myself and those around me. As a result, I was granted parole and sent to a halfway house, and that’s where I learned about Five Keys.”

He started as a volunteer tutor. Nine years later, he’s now the Assistant Director of Community Sites for the South Bay, overseeing nearly 270 students across three sites. His work focuses on education, employment, social justice, housing, and building stronger communities.

“I want to help people who feel lost, whether they’re unhoused, battling addiction, or still in custody,” says Timothy. “I know from experience that life can get better. Education is the great changemaker.”

View fullsize

Timothy lives by this quote. It’s the foundation of his life’s work—using education to turn hopes and dreams into tangible progress.

A Life Rebuilt—and Shared

Since his release, Timothy has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and is currently pursuing his MBA in Organizational Leadership online through Southern New Hampshire University.

He also gives back by volunteering at San Quentin, where he plays forward on a volunteer basketball team, Team Bitterman, competing against incarcerated teams like the San Quentin Kings.

Reflecting on his past, Timothy recalls the turning point:

“I was 19 when I was initially incarcerated and told I would never get out,” he says. “But when my grandmother passed away about ten years into my sentence, and I couldn’t say goodbye—that changed me. That’s when I decided I wanted to become a better son, brother, and person.”

During his incarceration, Timothy befriended Glenn, a man nearly 70 years old who had spent over four decades in prison. Glenn needed to earn his GED to be considered for parole.

“Glenn and I worked together on math every day.  I assisted him in understanding the language of math and the associated questions.” Timothy recalls. After a month or so, Glenn took the math test and passed. He got his GED, and soon after, he was granted parole.”

To this day, Timothy remains in touch with Glenn.

Writing the Next Chapter

Outside of work, Timothy enjoys long walks with his two dogs, Blu and Dino, and is currently writing a memoir.

View fullsize

When asked about his bucket list, he smiles. “I spent enough time ‘on vacation’ in a cell. Now I’m all about working, building a better community, and being a son my mom is proud of.”

View fullsize

His message to others is simple yet powerful:

 “Whether you’re incarcerated or just stuck in a dark place in your life, this can be your new chapter. You can change. Things can get better.”

Speaking to students at a Mt. Tamalpais College alumni event, Timothy shared:

“Education helped me find my moral compass. Accountability and integrity is everything. How you think and act in custody will shape your decisions and actions when you are out of prison.”

Timothy Long’s story is proof that education doesn’t just open doors—it rebuilds lives.

View fullsize

Timothy at the Five Keys 21st Anniversary Celebration on April 24, 2025

From Solitary Confinement to Second Chance: Finding God, New Direction, After Divine Encounter in Prison

We’re all just love and I think love is more important than anything.

When the heavy steel door clanged shut, Ernest Douglas Brown found himself in a small, windowless 8 ft × 10 ft room with minimal furnishings — a concrete ledge for sleeping, a steel sink/toilet combination, and two concrete cubes serving as a desk and chair. He was kept in isolation for up to 23 hours a day and under constant surveillance — a crucible, raw, brutal, and dehumanizing.

For Ernest, solitary confinement in the “SHU,” (Solitary Confinement Housing Unit), at Corcoran State Prison, followed more than 25 years of being shuttled between a handful of maximum-security prisons throughout California. It is infamous for housing some of California’s most notorious gang members and criminals including Charles Manson. Ernest was convicted at 31 for the first-degree attempted murder, and three council assault battery.

“When I got locked up there, I was angry. I was lost. I was done,” Ernest, 61, recalls. “I had lost all hope. I kept asking myself, ‘how did I get here among the worst of the worst?”

But something happened.

He spotted a Bible, the only thing in his cell — but he ignored it for days. Until one day he picked it up “I had nothing left,” he says. “I kept hearing my mom’s words, ‘to listen to the word of God,’ but I never wanted to hear them when I was young and made so many bad choices. I noticed the pages were sticking together and realized I was crying, sobbing the whole time. I kept wiping away my tears and reading.”

Called to a New Mission:

“We’re all just love and I think love is more important than anything.”

That Bible became a lifeline. Page by page, he felt something stir — “I felt something moving, an unfamiliar warmth, a sense of being seen. I promised God that if I ever got out, I would change my life through hell and high water.”

Fast forward to today.

Ernest and Five Keys Supporter Roma Guy (renowned American LCBT- and women’s rights activist) at the Five Keys 21st Anniversary Celebration Fundraiser

Years of introspection, prayer, and personal transformation eventually led to Ernest’s release.

“For me freedom didn’t just mean walking out of prison, it meant becoming free inside,” says Ernest.

Today, Ernest works full-time jobs — Five Keys’ Mission Cabins dedicated to supporting those who are unhoused or transitioning from prison, people who much like him, had been discarded by society.

As a Five Keys’ Ambassador at Mission Cabins, 1979 Mission St., he works 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. helping individuals find shelter and stability, offering them not just a roof over their heads but also a sense of dignity and hope. Mission Cabins is a tiny-home village built for the unhoused and those transitioning out of incarceration. The program, a joint effort Five Keys and San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness, includes private cabins with support services and compassion for about 60 to 65 guests.

“Mission Cabins is a place where we  care about each other, where people feel safe and someone will speak to you like your matter,” says Ernest, who lives in a studio apartment in downtown San Francisco and is saving to buy his first house. “It’s a place where people who were once hopeless like me can realize that anything is possible.  We’re all just love and I think love is more important than anything.”

Living a Prayer

Most days, he mans the front gate security, spends the day making wellness checks among the residents of the 60 tiny cabins and stationed at the cafeteria. The position alternates when thensupervisor needs rotation.

“Most times the people here just need someone to listen to them, to care,” says Ernest. “I love my job because I get to do that. It’s like I’m living a prayer. I get to truthfully say, ‘Hey man, I’ve been there. I’m just like you and see and feel your pain. But, I’m also proof that you can change your life around. Today I have a nice apartment, I’m building my credit and I’m clean and not selling drugs. They know I know what I’m talking about and they know I am there that I really do care.”

Ernest speaking at the Five Keys 21st Anniversary Celebration Fundraiser

From Isolation to Inspiration

His transformation — from isolation to inspiration — isn’t unique, but it is rare and testimony to the work Five Keys does every day to support individuals striving to turn their lives around. He shares his story openly, not to glorify his past, but to point to the power of redemption.

Ermest grew up one of two sisters and eight brothers in Seaside, California, a city located in Monterey County on the Central Coast of California. the son of a minister. His parents divorced and he says his teenage life started spiraling down the wrong path.

 “It all just started as a rebelling teenager who thought he had enough of God and went against his parents. It started with smoking, drinking and all led to the awful day when myself who was under the influence has a disagreement with other individual that led up to a crime.”

He adds: “I realize how immature I was and not the person I am today,” says Ernest. “Sometimes I ask, ‘why, why, why?” But now I have made it my manifesto to help others and have left that lifestyle behind.”

When he is not at work, Ernest spends time with his girlfriend, a restaurant owner he met while scouring the streets of San Franscisco for the unhoused who could use his help.

“I’m all about trying new things,” he says.  From dirt biking to tasting new cuisines, he says he is determined to find the “wow” in every day. “I am keeping my promise to the higher power to live life straight, honestly and kindly. I see my role in life to love and spread that love to the people who need it most.”

Freedom Warrior: After almost 25 years in prison, a California woman now fights for incarcerated women, youth

Just three months after being released from prison, Trancita Ponce, 43, is pouring her heart into a new chapter of her life — giving back to those who need it most.

After spending more than half of her life behind bars, Trancita was released on Oct. 22, 2024 from the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla, CA. She says that because of Five Keys’ Home Free, a Treasure Island-based trauma-informed reentry program for recently-released women, she quickly found a job.

Now, she’s working full-time as an ambassador for Five Keys’ Navigation Centers in the heart of San Francisco’s Tenderloin, where she’s dedicating herself to helping unhoused individuals rebuild their lives. Trancita also is an ambassador for Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition, a team of formerly and currently incarcerated women who advocate tirelessly for the rights of women behind California’s prison walls. She’s also got ambitious plans to continue volunteering in a role she held in prison, helping incarcerated youth adjust to prison life. The program the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) Youth Division Program, helps instill in the young inmates a respect for the law, themselves and their communities.

 “I wrote a program for youth that I am going to introduce out there very soon,” says Trancita. “I’m determined to live out my life with purpose. I wasted so much time and now I am determined to give back every moment.”

To say Trancita has hit the ground running is to understate.

Employment as Catalyst: Economic mobility and Reduced Recidivism

Her journey speaks volumes about the power of employment to create economic mobility for the vulnerable population of returning citizens. With the unemployment rate for the formerly incarcerated at over 27% — higher than the total U.S. unemployment rate during any historical period, including the Great Depression. Formerly incarcerated individuals are 24% less likely to return to prison if they acquired new skills and held a job during incarceration. Additionally, those who are unable to maintain employment experience a recidivism rate of 52% over three years, whereas their peers who maintain employment for one-year post-release experienced a recidivism rate of just 16%.

From Struggles to Strength: Overcoming Adversity and Transformation

Trancita’s journey is one of profound transformation. Born in Riverside County, she grew up in a small town called Perris, CA, just 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles, she was one of eight children in a home where addiction and instability were constant. Her parents, both heroin addicts, were frequently in and out of prison, and by the age of seven, Trancita had already experimented with drugs. By 10, she was selling cocaine, and by thirteen, she joined a gang.

Her teenage years were marked by trauma — sexual abuse, violence, and ultimately, the loss of her freedom when she became a ward of the state. She spent her adolescence in juvenile hall, surrounded by crime and chaos. At 18, Trancita’s addiction to methamphetamine had consumed her life.

Her downward spiral led her to prison for a gang-related beating.

“Looking back,” she says, “I realize I was taking out my own trauma and doing to the victim what had once been done to me.”

Over the next 16 years, she was moved from facility to facility — Valley State Prison, the California Institution for Women (CIW), and eventually the Central California Women's Facility (CCWF) — but in every place, she remained trapped in addiction and destructive behavior.

“I was in such a dark place,” Trancita recalls. “I was a heroin addict, ‘dope sick.”

From Darkness to Light: “I believe in you.”

Until one day when she says she experienced “my spiritual awakening.”

“I was lying on my cell floor crying, begging God to help me,” she says. “I sobbed for hours, pleading for something to change. I was considered a program failure by the system and there was no chance for me to qualify for any of the special prison programs to help turn my life around.”

It was in that darkest moment she discovered God and began to rebuild her life from the inside out.

Then, one of the prison correctional captains approached her and said, “I can help you. I am starting an alternative program in 30 days and I want you to be in it. I will keep my word. I believe in you.”

“Those four words changed my life,” says Trancita.

Through faith and perseverance, Trancita got sober and worked tirelessly to overcame her past, finding healing and purpose where once there was only pain.

Today, her story is a testament to the power of redemption and the unshakable strength of the human spirit.

Moving Forward: Finding New Hope at Home Free

Today, Trancita is brimming with plans for the future. As an ambassador for Five Keys, a groundbreaking nonprofit, supporting over 25,000 at-risk and in-risk individuals across California, she says, “I feel I’m really living out my purpose. Through the Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition I’m working with other women who are dedicated to demanding transformation, helping women in prison hold hope, and push forward toward a future where safety and justice belong to all of us.”

During the winter holidays, she also reunited with all of her brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and nieces and nephews at a week-long of gatherings at her brother’s home in Riverside County.

The Amazon trucks that pull up with deliveries — an Apple Watch, a Ninja blender, clothing, toiletries, and everything she needs for her transition — at her Home Free apartment are testament to the compassion and caring her family is wrapping her in.

“It is the simple things, like standing on a lawn, holding a fork and napkin, (instead of plastic and paper), having a key… It is overwhelming… It just reminds me every day that God is good.”

These days she’s focused on her job and volunteer work. But she says she’s also looking forward to one day soon a shopping trek to a Dollar Tree store, going to Disneyland, and riding a ferris wheel.

Good Job. Keep Going, Keep Going:” Patrick Bayona’s Journey from Jail to Purpose Through Art and Service

Incarcerated during his early thirties, Patrick Bayona’s journey to self-discovery began in the harsh isolation of the “hole” at 850 Bryant Jail. It was there, confined to a cramped space with 10 violent offenders for six months, that he discovered the transformative power of art.

View fullsize

With nothing but a few #2 pencils and paper, Patrick began creating portrait art — lots of sketches of his wife, Sarah, landscapes, — hundreds of drawings. When a Five Keys teacher took notice of his artwork, she added colored pencils and pastels to his art supplies and assigned him to coordinate a team to create the posters, 40 of them, to decorate the living pod for a Pacific Islander event.

Soon, Patrick was drawing greeting cards for fellow jail mates to send to their families and friends, earning him a little cash for snacks. A Five Keys teacher and a Five Keys counselor, both named Jackie, also encouraged him, and he says it “pointed me in the right direction.”

“Art kept me going, kept me sane,” says Patrick, 39. “It’s as if creativity was the first positive thing I did for myself and gave me a place to process why I was always so angry.” Before long, he was finding solace and a new sense of purpose in every stroke.

A Story of Redemption and Resilience

Fast forward to today. After his release from jail in May 2020, Patrick continued his transformative work with Five Keys and was hired as a wellness ambassador at Five Keys’ Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center. In 2022 he was promoted to Activities Coordinator, where he works full-time running everything from daily yoga and meditation to art classes and peace circles.

Patrick also is completing his final semester of a four-and-a-half year, full-ride scholarship at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. The opportunity was awarded through a partnership with Five Keys on the agreement that Patrick could successfully complete a semester at Laney College in Oakland, which he mastered with a 3.5 GPA.

Overcoming Adversity: Life Before Five Keys

Patrick’s story speaks volumes about the opportunity Five Keys, the San Francisco-based accredited charter school has offered to more than 30,000 at-risk and in-risk individuals across California. He’s a living tribute to the fact that creativity, education, community service and personal reflection and growth, along with the kindness and support of caring individuals and a second chance, can change lives in the most challenging environments.

Patrick is the first to say, “I’m not proud of my past and it’s still a work in progress. I remember being in a peacekeeping circle training at Five Keys and one of the women said how wealthy she feels in a social sense not in a money sense. But she said it was the first time in her life she felt supported and cared for. I realized that was the first time I realized that for myself. I too feel overjoyed with this kind of wealth that these relationships bring to my life.”

Good Job. Keep Going. Keep Going!

Patrick says the pivotal moment that led him to seek change was when one of the professors at the university spotted him painting his art and said: “Good job, keep going, keep going.”

It’s become his personal mantra. “Whenever I am having a challenging time, I keep saying that to myself, ‘Keep going, keep going,” says Patrick.

Five Keys counselor, and one of “the Jackies,” Jackie Gordon* also was one of the carers who encouraged Patrick to turn his life around and to amplify his own voice and the voices of others who need to be seen and heard.

The Beat Within: Giving Back to the Community

These days, Patrick is committed to helping those others, especially homeless individuals, find meaning in their lives.

“The men and women here at the Navigation Center inspire me with their courage and authenticity every day,” says Patrick. “They face challenges most people could never imagine. I am inspired by Kevin, who reminds me to work on my martial arts, which has helped him with his addictions and on days he just wants to give up.

And, Maria, who was so courageous to leave her family and not stay trapped in alcoholism and domestic violence. She has no income, nothing, but she can be herself here and she is working on creating a new life. They help me to reflect on what I did and to know that I need to treat my partner with respect and kindness, to treat everyone that way. It is a daily struggle. I started drinking at age six and was an alcoholic by 12.

I was out of my mind. But I don’t want to dwell in that shame and am working very hard to be a good, productive person.”

View fullsize

Exciting news is that Patrick has donated his artwork (13 pieces) to help raise funds for Five Keys at the 21st Anniversary Celebration through the silent auction.

The Beat Goes On

When he’s not at work, Patrick is a turntablist, performing as a DJ throughout northern California, focusing much of his musical work on fundraising, like at a recent San Jose event for rare diseases. Turntablism is the art of manipulating sounds and creating new music, sound effects, mixes and other creative sounds and beats, typically by using two or more turntables and a crossfader-equipped DJ mixer. He also shares his artwork and has mentored other aspiring artists through The Beat Within, “A publication of art and writing from inside.” 

View fullsize

His most proud relationship is with his wife Sarah, “who is my best friend, and has taught me to understand what it is to live a good life.” says Patrick. Sarah is the person he admires the most. “Sarah helps me step out of the box, understanding what travel and taking a real break really means. We love to cook together and discuss politics.” Last January, the couple traveled to Hawaii. “We’ve got so many things we want to do together.”  

View fullsize

* Note: Sadly, Jackie Gordon died in 2023. As a lead facilitator in the jails, Jackie left an indelible impact on Patrick and countless incarcerated students and clients. In a tribute at her memorial service, the 69-year-old was said to be known for her warmth, kindness, and genuine care for everyone she encountered. Her dedication to clients and guests was unparalleled, leaving an enduring mark on the community. Jackie’s journey with Five Keys began officially on July 1, 2011, and spanned over two decades as a servant to Five Keys’s underserved communities. She understood the power of providing support and resources to those who needed it most, often going above and beyond to ensure their well-being. Her presence was a source of inspiration, and her guidance helped many individuals navigate the challenges they faced. Jackie’s passion, dedication, and impact on all of us will always be remembered. “She changed my life,” says Patrick. “It still brings me to tears when I think of the support, she gave me at a time when I needed her compassion most.”

You Can! They Will! Don’t Ever Give Up!

From Student to Principal Advocate: How Monique Kammer Turned Setbacks into Steppingstones

At 15, Monique Kammer became pregnant and was kicked out of high school.

“I was one of ‘those kids,” she says. “I was basically told, ‘We don’t do pregnancies, get out,” says Monique. She owes her future and is eternally grateful to a teacher, Mrs. Brown, who she says told her, “This is not the end of life for you. We will find another way.”

Against all odds, she did! She achieved her high school GED, then junior college, where at the same time she financed her education working as a bus driver in the Rialto school district, the same school district where she went to grade school.

Fast-forward almost 40 years, Monique holds a Doctor of Education and Social Justice, a master’s in educational administration, a Bachelor’s in English, is a certified biblical studies graduate, runs her own education consultancy and helped lead education reform in the United Arab Emirates.

Today she oversees the high school education of more than 500 male inmates as the Principal of Pitchess Detention Center for Five Keys. The school provides educational services to three different areas in the detention center, including a maximum-security facility in Castaic, CA.

“The fact that I was a teen who got kicked out of school because I was pregnant, and now am an EdD who is helping the people Five Keys serves who face very tough roads is so significant for me and is the way I can give back,” says Monique, biological mom of Raneisha, 36, and Mark, 29, stepmom to Sascha, 28 and grandmother of four. 

On her LinkedIn Monique describes herself, as “Author | Social Justice Advocate | Education Consultant | Speaker | Ambassador for Christ.”

Becoming a Powerful Advocate

Monique has carved out a path that not only led her to success but has also made her a powerful advocate for those who have been left behind. Her journey from a teenage mom to the helm of California’s oldest criminal detention facility has included serving eight years as a bus driver for her childhood school district in Rialto, California. She’s taught English in middle schools and high schools; been a high school cheerleading coach and worked her way up to vice principal and principal, working largely in school districts in underserved neighborhoods with African American and first-generation Hispanic students.

“I take a no child left behind approach,” she says. “I don’t focus on making students perfect, I ask them to move one step ahead at a time.

Unlocking Futures

Her story speaks volumes about the power of education to transform lives when individuals are empowered and supported. With social justice, inclusivity and leadership driving her every action, Monique brings her mantra, “You Can! They Will! Don’t Ever Give Up!” to Five Keys.

Last summer, just months into her principal’s position at Five Keys overseeing 11 teachers, Monique was especially proud of the 17 men who walked down the graduation aisle with their high school diplomas in hand.

Most of them wrote an essay on how they now have hope,” says Monique. “I told them, your diploma has no expiration date, it is the key to unlocking your futures. It will wait for you in five, or even 10 years; it has no expiration. No matter how bleak your circumstances can seem, there is always hope. I know that and the graduation ceremony of these men is all about giving people hope.”

The Power of Diversity and Inclusivity

 At the heart of Monique’s leadership philosophy is a deep belief in the power of diversity.

“I passionately believe that a team that is diverse is unstoppable,” says Monique. “With contributions of various perspectives, values, backgrounds, insights, abilities, and enthusiasms, the possibilities are endless.” She adds that true innovation stems from a culture of inclusivity, where everyone who contributes feels valued, appreciated, and empowered because of the attributes that make them unique.

Defining Life Purpose

Monique chronicles her experiences in her book,  I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me That! Messages to Those Who Come After Me. The book is meant to bring that hope to people of all ages who are wondering if they have a life purpose, to help them identify their capabilities and gifts and to release the heavy weight of past decisions that haunt them and holds them back from claiming the life they deserve.  

In the book she speaks to readers: “Let me tell you something I wish someone would have told me: I know how to beat those feelings. I will help you find healing and show you how to let go of the past and embrace your future! How do I know? Because I've been there. Discover the messages that I wish someone would have told me. I pray that my messages can help you become the strong, courageous, and confident person God intended you to be!”

Outside work, Monique and her husband hit the California highways in their RV, camping, exploring new places, and lifelong learning. Spring Break this year they are headed with the whole clan, grandkids and all, to Utah for skiing.

“There’s always a new adventure or opportunity to explore,” she says.

Principal Helps Build a Bright Future for LA’s Boyle Heights Teens

With 20 years of experience in education, Sucari Epps is the proud principal at Five Keys Boyle Heights youth site in Los Angeles. Hailing from a family of pioneering Black women — her grandmother was an employment specialist for the veteran’s administration and her mom a probation officer — her path to becoming a principal was not linear.

Five Keys graduation night, June 2024

“I had planned on a career as a lawyer or in politics,” the 44-year-old LA resident says. “But teaching seemed to choose me.”

And, making a difference in the lives of young people through education became her calling.

Today, in a neighborhood that has one of the highest rates of gang violence in America, Sucari may not hold the title of attorney or lawmaker, but her vision for making a difference goes far beyond legislative changes in the lives of predominantly Latino students in this underserved barrio. She’s helping them imagine the unimaginable. A stone’s throw from downtown Los Angeles, gang members are part of the scenery of Boyle Heights. But it’s not just the physical violence, it’s the violence of unemployment, segregation, isolation and an educational system that blatantly ignores and kicks the neighborhood’s teens to the curb.

“These students can barely go outside our building because we are surrounded by two gangs,” she says. “We’ve got bullet marks on the windows and gang members will pull up dressed all in black wearing black hoodies threatening our students. We’re confiscating drugs, knives and vape pens. But yet, somehow inside these doors, the students have learned to speak the academic language, to feel safe and to find new hope. Trust and respect for the students and each other are key.”

The school is made up of students ages 16 to 24 and currently has 56 students enrolled. In June of 2024, 10 students graduated with a high school diploma. Five Keys shares the building and partners with the Boyle Heights Youth Technology Center at 1600 E. 4th St. in Los Angeles.

That’s why she says it’s so exciting to be part of the Five Keys’ school system, which not only aligns with her social justice beliefs, but has the audacity to instill the values that will guide these young people to become responsible and compassionate contributors to the community.

“One of the students I was really proud of is a young lady who really struggled with mental health issues, living with an alcoholic and extremely verbally abusive mother,” says Sucari. I was astonished how she arrived day after day and found the tools and resources to stay focused from our counselors, to joining the student council. I’m so proud to say that today she is in college studying to become psychologist. She’s told me she wants to get her doctorate.

Sucari’s journey from her aspirations to join the legal or political system is an inspiring testament to the transformative potential of educators who are committed to making a difference in their communities.

“Sucari is so passionate, compassionate and really cares about our students and helping them each individually,” says Kelley Alley, SoCal Reginal Superintendent, who supervises Sucari and the principals. “She goes above and beyond by making sure each student is connected to the resources they need.”

In addition to Five Keys Boyle Heights, Sucari recently was appointed principal of Healthright360-Prototypes, which provides education to women who are rebuilding their lives and the lives of their children in a community impacted by substance use, mental illness and domestic violence, and the Pomona school.

From launching a student council to taking students on weekly field trips to Hollywood and bringing in CPR training so students can get certified in case they face life-threatening situations in the community they live, “Sucari is always innovating and looking at ways to improve what we offer to students,” said Kelley.

Sucari graduated with a degree in English Writing and a Master’s in Special Education from California State University in Northridge and a PhD in Education Leadership and Administration from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

Her ultimate goal has always been to lead a school program or programs that foster positive learning experiences for at-promise youth and/or students with significant social/emotional/behavioral needs as a mentor, coach to instructors, and/or intensive intervention support provider. 

“My goal is that these young men and women of color will never again feel limited in their opportunities,” says Sucari. “I’m looking forward to the years ahead, growing this program and watching as together we are transforming lives.”

When she’s not at work, Sucari is trailblazing new journeys traveling on her motorcycle to cities and the countryside near and far from Los Angeles. “I love to make new discoveries and create new adventures.”

Second Chance Program Offers Former Prison Inmate New Lease on Life - A story of hope and pushing others forward

Before he graduated high school this May through Five Keys Charter Schools,  Joseph Riddlesperger, 27, spent most of his teen years “catching cases.”  Bounced from juvenile hall to foster homes, he was kicked out of high school. Eventually he ended up incarcerated for almost four years. The collateral consequences of a trauma-filled upbringing led him to multiple convictions for vehicle theft, DUI, drug possession, stealing cars, and evading the law.

Graduation day at the Southeast Community Center in San Francisco on June 7, 2024.

After being released from prison and moving in with an uncle, Joseph couldn’t break the cycle and found himself facing another five-year stint in prison. 

But providence stepped in through an emotional prison visit from his mother and a surprise offer from a judge who told him “You are the worst possible candidate for a drug program.” At his sentencing hearing, the judge offered Joseph a second chance to turn his life around:  The deal: wave prison time and attend a two-year bootcamp-style program, The Jericho Project in Brisbane, CA. 

 “My lifestyle was getting high and catching cases, not a very productive member of society,” says Joseph. “I was always self-sabotaging. But then my mother came to the prison to visit me and it got me. She was crying saying she couldn’t survive one more night waiting for a phone call and wondering if I was going to make it home. She told me how I had once been the role model for my nieces and nephews. But my13-year-old nephew said I wasn’t anymore. That is when I felt I lost everything. I didn’t want to be that guy. I want to be better than that.” 

Enter the Jericho Project, a humane alternative to prison that provides treatment and training to chemically dependent former offenders who are committed to recovery rehabilitation. There, men like Joseph receive housing, treatment, education, physical training, social development and vocational training so they can become productive and successful members of society again. It’s a tough haul. Newbies are not allowed calls or any contact with family members for 90 days. 

“Joseph’s one of the ‘lucky’ ones, he got two years here, when most of us just get one,” says Matt Jones, intake director for Jericho, who is a graduate of the program where 70 men including Joseph currently live. “I say that sarcastically because 60 percent of the men don’t make it through one year here. But Joseph is close to completing two years, a very strict sentence. The way Joseph has turned himself around has been a major pillar in my own recovery and growth. He has become a leader helping the new men who arrive here and they respect him because they know he gets where they have been.” 

Months away from completing the Jericho program, Joseph works daily as a warehouse manager as a diesel mechanic. After hours, he is a personal trainer at Jericho.

Jericho Project’s educational curriculum is a key component of treatment, crucial to assisting clients like Joseph in developing into a functional, self-reliant individual. The partnership with Five Keys Charter Schools is key to that transformation. 

Joseph says his high school graduation was a monumental event he never could have imagined. To support him, his supervisor from work attended the ceremony. “It meant the world to me to have him there,” says Joseph. 

Joseph receives his diploma. It’s official.

Like it’s biblical metaphor, the Jericho Project invites and challenges former offenders like Joseph who often are considered society’s throw aways to get and be better, to achieve what seems impossible to others.

Joseph’s gratefulness for his Five Keys teacher, Tanya Kennedy, doesn’t even scratch the surface of what he says she has done to guide him through the challenging classroom. 

“She is so full of life and spent so much time giving me extra help in class,” says Joseph. “I had such a hard time with economics, but she spent so much time breaking it down in details until I got it.” 

The respect is mutual. 

“Joseph is an inspiration for a lot of people,” says Five Keys’ teacher Kennedy, who works onsite at Jericho. “Like many of the men he didn’t have the greatest upbringing, yet he doesn’t hold grudges and is very grateful for his renewed relationship with his family. He is up for any challenge and is a shining example of someone who has persevered and pushed through tremendous hardship to do better every day. He has become like a third son to me.” 

Tanya Kennedy and Joseph

Joseph is keenly aware of the tremendous opportunity The Jericho Project and Five Keys are giving him to break free of his past and work hard toward a new life where he will flourish and grow. The U.S. prison system is based on punishment. The problem is, it doesn’t work — more than half of people released from prison are back within three years, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

What’s ahead? Joseph hopes to flip his high school diploma into a college degree, and wants to become an electrical mechanic.  
“I want to set an example for my family and the other men here, become a role model and a productive citizen,” says Joseph. 

Despite the barriers that society has in place, and continues to reinforce, Joseph says he and Matt are proof that you can lead a positive life after prison. He shares his experience with the young men entering the Jericho program.

About The Jericho Project

Jericho Project was established in 1995 as a structured, residential treatment program for recovery from substance abuse and criminal behavior. The primary objective is recovery through development of the mind, body, and spirit. The program facilities include several of our state-licensed private residential facilities and our outpatient treatment center. Jericho Project's first phase housing includes two residential houses. The houses are designed for newcomers who have been in the program less than three months. Our second phase housing consists of our 18-unit apartment complex. The apartment complex is designed to accommodate senior members. Our third phase housing consists of our 11-unit apartment complex designed for the alumni in our aftercare program. All residential housing is supervised by senior staff members. Our outpatient treatment center contains large open rooms for members to conduct treatment meetings, educational/ vocational classes, warehousing/forklift certification classes, corporate offices, and professional gym, which is designed to promote a healthy lifestyle. The center is central to the program's structure, training, and activities.