“I needed to find a way to start my life over.”
The following is told by Tyrone, an employed participant of Cara, May 2024 Cohort.
“In 1991, I was taken away from my home by the Chicago police and sent to prison for a crime that I did not commit. At the time, there was an officer who was known for targeting young Black men and coercing them into making false confessions for crimes. I had no idea that I would be the next victim of this corruption and was wrongfully incarcerated for 32 years.
“While I was in prison, I spent 20 years in isolation and had to literally and figurative fight my way out. Eventually we, myself and other advocates, were able to convince the UN Commission on Human Rights that what the state of Illinois was doing was inhumane. In 2012, the Governor closed the prison.
“After this decision was made, I was released from isolation and sent to another Correctional Center in the state of Illinois. During my time there, I immersed myself in academic work. I received an Associate of Arts degree and became a presidential scholar with a 4.0 GPA. Shortly after, I received a Bachelor of Social Science, General Studies from Northwestern with a spot on the Dean’s List.
“I was released from prison in February of 2024, and I needed to find a way to start my life over.
“In May, I joined Cara as a participant and when I sat in the Motivations circle my first thought was, ‘Wow.’ I have witnessed the power of storytelling before, but this experience helped me realize that even though I have been through some things, other people may have been through worse.
“Listening to these different stories, along with seeing trainers and coaches dedicated to helping individuals navigate their obstacles, left me deeply inspired. The trainings taught me to weigh my responses carefully – that I must choose between adhering to old ways of reacting and considering the long-term impact of my actions.
“One of my most valuable experiences at Cara has been the opportunity to learn about the workforce, especially since my background includes 32 years of wrongful incarceration. I never had the chance to be part of a workplace or see how companies operate. This lack of experience made my training at Cara even more essential.
“The structured training I received really prepared me for real-world situations. Now, I find myself in interviews with multiple opportunities. I’m currently juggling six phone interviews! It’s incredibly rewarding to apply the skills that the staff taught me and to see those lessons come to life.
“Before Cara, I had no idea how the professional world operated. I was just 20 years old when I was taken from my home, and for the next 32 years, I focused on survival and education. Now, I feel equipped with the understanding and skills I need to navigate the workforce effectively, something I would never have gained without Cara.
“I’m a free man now. I spent 32 years in prison, 20 in complete isolation. As far as I see it, I’m in my long-term future right now – I do not have any time to waste. I’m on the road to my end goal, which is to use my experience and my story to help others.
“Because of the opportunities I’ve received through Cara, I’m speaking at conferences, I’m speaking at universities, I’m speaking to professional organizations. I am using my story, my experiences, my hardship, and what I’ve learned to help others – that would not have been possible without Cara Collective and the opportunities they provided me.”
Since this interview, Tyrone has accepted a position as a Community Health Worker with South Side Healthy Community Organization.
Your support this season makes an immediate, impactful difference in the lives of Cara’s job seekers. Transform a life this Season of Giving at www.caracollective.org/give.
