When Stephen talks about his hometown of Pontiac, Michigan, he lights up. “The whole block was family, man. We all grew up together.”
Raised by his grandmother with ten siblings and countless cousins nearby, Stephen spent his youth playing basketball and hanging out in the neighborhood. After high school, he enrolled in community college to study HVAC – he came from a strong family where entrepreneurship was common, and he was encouraged to learn a trade.
Then came the years of incarceration that changed everything. When Stephen walked out of prison into a halfway house, he was determined to rebuild. After his parole officer connected him with the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a nonprofit that supports individuals released from jail or prison with job training, transitional work, and coaching, he applied immediately.
“I’d heard about CEO inside,” Stephen says. “When I finished my orientation, they set me up with everything – bus fare, work clothes, even had people checking in to make sure we were okay.”
Stephen joined CEO’s transitional work crew, earning daily pay while meeting weekly with a job coach who guided him toward a long‑term career. When he showed interest in getting his Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), CEO referred Stephen to a partner trucking school and covered tuition with support from the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Stephen explained that not only did CEO pay for his tuition, they also provided a weekly stipend and transportation vouchers for the local buses.
“They set me up to succeed,” Stephen says. “I want to travel, drive long distances, and make a living using what I’ve learned.” According to the American Trucking Association, the U.S. faces a shortage of nearly 80,000 drivers, and CDL holders earn, on average, 25% more than non‑licensed transport workers.
For justice-impacted individuals like Stephen, a commercial drivers license offers something that’s hard to find for many people – a quality job with great pay.
Still, his path hasn’t been without obstacles. Earlier this year, the father of six lost his $300 monthly SNAP benefits when federal changes restricted aid to part‑time workers and parolees. “Losing access to food assistance forced me to budget differently,” says Stephen. “It was devastating. I already can’t get certain jobs because of parole restrictions and my background, and feeding a family of eight out of pocket is tough.”
When he first came home, SNAP was a relief that allowed him to save money. Without it, every paycheck now has to stretch further than possible.
Stephen also faces hiring discrimination since coming home. For example, even though he holds a CDL, some companies refuse to hire him for full‑time roles despite his qualifications because of his background. He has been working for a local company driving box trucks because he hasn’t had any luck being hired to drive semi’s with a criminal history.
Still, his optimism doesn’t waver. “I’m a spiritual person,” Steven says. “Every day you wake up is a new chance to be better than before.”
Stephen’s journey stands as proof that with fair hiring, food security, and programs like CEO that invest in potential, there is a path to stronger communities and greater economic growth.
“I recommend you to go to CEO if you want to give yourself a shot at a better life,” says Stephen. “They're going to give you the tools to succeed, you just have to use them.”
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