Alumni Support

Getting out of prison is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It was that much harder because I did it alone.

A huge reason that our program at DEUCE Community is built on mentorship is so that others don’t have to traverse this path by themselves. 

You might be asking what it feels like to get out of prison. For me, it was terrifying and lonely, just like prison. However, prison was full of people just like me who understood me. Even if we did not acknowledge our experience to one another, there was an immense amount of comfort in being around people like me. 

When I was released, I was a pariah. No one understood me or wanted to associate with me. I could almost hear a clock ticking, counting down my return to prison. I was so institutionalized that even the most basic interactions were extremely difficult for me.

Six years and some change out, I’m still working through this. Often, I feel that those who best understand me and can give me perspective are those who have fought the same battles I have. 

That is why our peer mentorship program never ends. All students who depart the program are offered continued contact and support. 

One of the hardest parts of the human experience is being alone. 

Once we have felt what it is like to be completely engulfed in loneliness without any hope of salvation- but somehow managed to find it- we feel a strong pull to embrace others who have been there. 

If you would like to get involved with our alumni support network or any of the programs at DEUCE Community, contact campbell@deucegym.com.