Kelvin Goes from Grief to Transformation
“I was in a dark place. My son was murdered on Thanksgiving and the pain of that shattered my family. My daughter’s words, ‘I got nobody to protect me now,’ cut me to my core, and my relationship with my wife fell apart. We blamed each other, and eventually, we separated.
“I was stuck in a cycle of grief and resentment. I blamed my job as a truck driver for taking me away from my family when I should’ve been there. I even promised myself I’d never drive a truck again. I couldn’t see a way forward and questioned why I was left behind when my son was taken.
“It felt like I lost everything—my family, my home, my job, my purpose…the life I once knew.
“I first heard of Cara Collective through a flyer I saw at the shelter I was living in. At that time, I still didn’t think anyone could help me, but something about it caught my attention. I decided to call, and that’s when everything began to change.
“When I first came to Cara, I expected nobody to care about me. But I was wrong. From that first day, I felt how the people there truly saw me, not just for my struggles, but for who I could become. The staff at Cara spoke to my heart. They weren’t just giving me advice or telling me what to do; they were showing me love in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.
“One of the first things we did was something called the Mirror Exercise. Our trainer, Jesse, walked around the room holding a body-length mirror up to each of us. He asked us to look into the mirror and tell the room what we saw. It was a lot of feelings of shame and struggle.
“At first, I didn’t get it. But later, when I stood in front of my own mirror at home, I started repeating positive affirmations: ‘I love you, Kelvin. You’re great. Greatness comes to you.’ It felt weird, but over time, those words became powerful. I began to see myself differently—more positively, and with a sense of possibility. That was the start of my transformation.
“Instead of just existing, I began to live again.”
“Cara didn’t just help me with affirmations; they gave me a space where I felt seen and supported every day. The staff treated me like family—Jesse, Miss Vicki, Vaughn—they all made me feel like I mattered. Their encouragement helped me find the energy to keep moving forward. Instead of just existing, I began to live again. I started reflecting on the daily lessons, writing things down, and preparing for group sessions. It was a shift I never thought possible.
“Soon, I began to see myself as a leader. I even helped organize a group activity and was honored with the Founders Award. That recognition was huge for me—it made me realize that I could contribute in ways I never imagined.
“Cara also opened doors for me professionally. Through Cara, I connected with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, who was impressed with my background. They asked about my short-term and long-term goals, and I shared my vision of growing within the company. Not long after, I was offered a position as an Operations Worker.
“Today, I’m excited because I see so many opportunities ahead of me. I plan to learn as much as I can in the next few years, absorbing everything like a sponge. I want to rise within the company, maybe even become a plant manager or take on a leadership role.
“I know it won’t be easy, but I’m ready. Cara has shown me that transformation is possible. After my son died, I was closed off from the world and couldn’t see a path forward. Now I’m able to learn and grow again. Cara helped me relocate my purpose, and now I’m moving forward with hope, determination, and my eyes set on a bright future.”
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