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Overcoming the odds:
With a father who died from drinking when Derrick was 15 years old and a mother who was addicted to drugs, Derrick was destined to live a hard life. At the age of 13, he began to sell drugs to make ends meet and to help ensure that his older sister finished high school. Soon after that he dropped out of school himself, and was living the “street life.”
An arrest in 1998 caused Derrick to reconsider his lifestyle. At that point he stopped selling drugs and began legitimate work through a series of short-term jobs ranging from fast food to warehousing enterprises. He continued in that mode for 10 years, beginning his family in his late teens.
In 2008, his best friend was murdered, the event having a profound impact on Derrick. He knew it was time for a change. Living in a bad neighborhood with his mother, sister, and two nieces, Derrick was struggling to put food on the table for his immediate family. His four children were with their mothers, and he worked hard to be involved with them as much as possible. With the promise of fast cash, street life continued to be a strong and constant temptation. His mother, now clean from her former drug addiction, encouraged Derrick to get involved with Fathers and Families Center.
With that encouragement, Derrick decided to enroll in Fathers and Families Center’s Fatherhood Development Workshop and the Center’s Youth Employment Services (YES) Program. With the staff’s encouragement through Drug-Free Marion County funding, Derrick stopped drinking and using marijuana, and began to buckle down and learn as much as he could at the Center. He worked with the Center’s staff daily for several weeks in hopes of attaining his GED. After intense GED preparation, Derrick took his GED exam at Fathers and Families Center.
His dedication and hard work paid off. Derrick passed his GED test, and with help from the Center’s job readiness training, he became employed at an eastside fast food establishment. His job provides personal satisfaction and the sense of accomplishment that keeps him on the right path. Derrick knows that he also has support from his “family” at Fathers and Families Center. He visits the agency frequently, and has his sights on a salaried management position at his place of employment.
Though he is not finished improving his life, he has made significant progress. In the future, he hopes to attend college and earn a degree in Business. He also wants to own a home in a good area, and provide a more stable life for his family. He says that more than anything “Fathers and Families Center gave me the confidence to succeed,” and the Fatherhood class taught him to be a “real man.” Derrick now spends a lot more time with his children. In his words, “I substitute my kids for drugs and alcohol.” Derrick states that he will continue to be involved with the Center by attending events and sharing his knowledge with other young fathers struggling to do the right thing.
Building a noble legacy: Earnest was born into a difficult situation. Growing up in a rough neighborhood, he was exposed to “street life” at an early age. The quick money and fast lifestyle soon took hold of Earnest. With both parents addicted to drugs and having a hard time supporting the family, Earnest began to sell drugs to make ends meet. His family life quickly deteriorated, and at age 13 he was placed in the custody of Child Protective Services. Earnest was only 17 years old when he learned he was going to be a father. Having lived in foster homes since age 13, Earnest never really had a strong father figure in his life. Knowing he was about to become a father, Earnest started making changes in his life. He took a job at McDonalds and rented an apartment in hopes of providing his child with a stable environment. His relationship with his child’s mother was often difficult. She denied him visitation with his son. Earnest began to drink and use drugs as a result of his difficult family life. The allure of street life proved to be too much, and Earnest began to sell drugs again. At age 20, Ernest was convicted of a drug-related charge, and had to spend 8 months in prison. While Earnest was serving time, his son entered the child welfare system, having been removed from his mother’s home. Shortly after his release, Earnest enrolled in Fathers and Families Center’s Apollo 13: Re-Entry Success and “Bringing Back the Dads” Programs. Earnest says that he learned effective parenting and other skills during his time at Fathers and Families Center. He has applied the lessons he learned from the program, and made some significant improvements. He is currently attending college, taking classes in business management. He is working full time as a phlebotomist, and is able to support his family. He is starting to set goals for himself which is something he never did before. His immediate goals include getting custody of his child, owning a home and car, and finding a better job.
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