Segorie’s Journey from the Streets to Stability
“I grew up on the West Side of Chicago in Cabrini Green, a neighborhood known for its challenges. From an early age, I was surrounded by gangs, and I spent my teenage years in and out of the penitentiary. My life felt like a cycle I couldn’t escape—a path of mistakes and lost opportunities.
“Growing up, Black men like me were led to believe that our only future was in the streets. Stealing, hustling…it was all I knew. That mindset shaped my reality for years. I didn’t see a way out.
“Everything changed when I found myself back in drug court facing another charge. Judge Burns looked at me and gave me a choice: ‘You can either get your life together, or I can send you back to the penitentiary.’ That was the moment I told myself, ‘I’m getting older. I’m tired of jail. It’s time to give myself a real chance.’
“I entered the Rehabilitation Alternative Probation (RAP) program, and for the first time ever, I got clean. Judge Burns then introduced me to Cara Collective.
“At first, I didn’t think Cara was for me. The singing, the clapping…it was a world I wasn’t used to. But they saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. They taught me discipline, respect, and the importance of showing up on time and ready.
“Respect was something I thought I already had. In the streets, people respected me. My family and friends looked up to me for the wrong reasons. Cara showed me that real respect isn’t given, it’s earned. If I wanted to succeed in a job, I had to respect others first.
“Cara held me accountable. I had been in and out of jail ten times. I had been through drug court five times. And I was in and out of Cara at first, too, but they never gave up on me. They told me, ‘We’ll make this as hard for you as you make it on yourself.’ That stuck with me. They pushed me to change and I’m so grateful they did.
“Now I have a steady job at Walmart. In October 2024, I celebrated my one-year work anniversary with perfect attendance. My manager even came with me to Cara to celebrate my Great Wall Ceremony—a moment that marked my success and the journey it took to get here.
“Before Cara, my life was unstable. The fast money I made selling drugs doesn’t compare to the pride I feel waking up every morning knowing I’m earning an honest living. Now, I’m trustworthy. Now, I’m respected for the right reasons.
“Every morning, I walk the same streets I used to steal and sell drugs on. I pass my old friends, and they ask me where I’m going. When I tell them I’m going to work, they can’t believe it.
“I want more people to give Cara a chance. It only takes a few days to realize they’re here to change lives. You sit in that chair, you listen, and it starts to make sense. And once it makes sense, you keep coming back. Because that’s what Cara does—they don’t just teach you how to get a job. They teach you how to transform your life.”
