Since she was a young girl in San Diego, Jody's grandfather always raised her to want to help people.
"He always said, 'You help others, and you never forget where you come from,'" she said.
While her life has included financial hardships, addiction, and encounters with the justice system, she never forgot that lesson.
"I want to give back and provide help and support for the people who need it most."
However, after being placed on probation for a nonviolent offense in 2023, she quickly learned that achieving her goals was not going to be easy.
Formerly incarcerated people have much higher rates of joblessness than the general public. A 2021 report by the Council of State Governments' Justice Center found that 72 percent of all post-release restrictions impact job opportunities. More than 70 million Americans with arrest records face barriers to finding work or a decent place to live. For Jody, it was no different.
"With my background, it was tough to find a job," Jody said.
"You can have a year sober, two years sober, be doing everything right, but you still have that history hanging over your head, and employers use it against you."
Jody’s probation officer referred her to the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO). Once there, she began transitional work beautifying highways while working one-on-one with a job coach to assist with mock interviews and resume building and provide guidance throughout the job search process for long-term employment. Thanks to the work and supportive environment, she says she found her confidence again.
"They would cheer me on, tell me that I got this, like a little family," Jody said.
"It helped me to believe that I could better myself."
Jody's hard work and discipline led to her promotion to crew chief, overseeing a team of six to eight people and training them on proper safety procedures. At the same time, she earned certifications in everything from food handling to forklift operations. During her breaks, she would follow up on job leads and apply anywhere that was open to hiring someone with her background. She completed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, finished her probation, and joined CEO’s Emerging Leadership Program.
"I wanted something better in life, I wanted more responsibility and leadership, so I really put in the footwork to better myself and grow," she said.
"And little by little, I accomplished that."
Throughout it all, her grandfather's words were never far from her mind. So, when the opportunity to help others and use the leadership skills she developed at CEO finally presented itself, she jumped at it, taking a position as a job coach for The Arc of San Diego, a comprehensive service provider for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"I go to my clients' jobs and, if they're having any problems, I advocate for them or, if they've just started, then I help train them until they get comfortable enough to do it on their own," Jody said.
"I'm able to help people and give them the kind of confidence and support that I needed and received."
Today, she continues her work at Arc, where she’s built financial stability and is now taking steps to start her own LLC in landscape maintenance. Her goal is to establish a company and career devoted to helping people with disabilities and other formerly incarcerated individuals not only get back on their feet, but thrive and succeed.
"I want to give people the opportunity to get back out there with a permanent job where you don't just stay stagnant, you advance," Jody said.
"Then later on, if they want to open up their own business, I want to help them go through the steps and show them how, the same way that CEO showed me."
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