"I survived by becoming hard. By building power. By doing things I'm not proud of things that hurt people, destroyed families, caused real harm."
"I went to prison for those choices. Served three years. Lost three years with my youngest daughter. Three years I'll never get back."
"When I was released, I could have given up. Could have decided that I was defined by my worst choices. That I didn't deserve a second chance."
"But someone believed in me. Multiple someones. They helped me rebuild. Helped me create something good from something broken."
"Second Course exists because I believe what I experienced that belief, that support, that second chance should be available to everyone. Not just people with resources. Not just people with family support.
Everyone."
"The people in this room tonight have the power to make that happen. Your donations fund training programs. Job placements. Support services. They transform lives."
