32 Years and Counting...
LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE AT 19
BREAKING THE CHAIN OF GENERATIONAL TRAUMA THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION
32 Years and Counting...
LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE AT 19
BREAKING THE CHAIN OF GENERATIONAL TRAUMA THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION
LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE AT 19
BREAKING THE CHAIN OF GENERATIONAL TRAUMA THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION
LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE AT 19
BREAKING THE CHAIN OF GENERATIONAL TRAUMA THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION
RENÉ F. RODRÍGUEZ
My name is René Francisco Rodriguez, I was born on the Island of Puerto Rico and raised in one of the poorest boroughs in New York City—The Bronx. Born to heroin addicted parents, I was most certainly destined to fail. But the narrative of my past, although tragic, did not defeat my will and desire to change. I'd like to share my story of how I ended up here, in prison at age 19, serving a life without parole sentence, and how I chose to break the chain of my tragic past through the transformative powers of higher education.
Education is at the center of my transformation and it all began with opening a book. I became a voracious reader, and for the first time ever, began developing my mind. As a result, a strong desire grew in me for meaningful change. I began to seek out self-development programs, but I wanted more...I became aware of an opportunity to get a college degree through Calvin University's Prison Initiative.
Today, I am a proud graduate of Calvin University. As an ambassador for the Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI), I work collaboratively with the Hope College Prison Initiative bringing ideas and concepts that mirror some of the same strategies used at CPI, helping Hope to further establish their program.
I want the work that I do to reflect my core beliefs. First, that no human being should ever be discarded, and second, with effort, dedication, and a lot of patience, there is the capacity to help people heal and change. This is one of the reasons why I founded the publication Views on LIFE. My philosophies are also connected to the restorative work I do.
Please take a moment to visit the About section of my website to learn about my work and mission to live meaningfully, intentionally, and aspirationally.
Where some may look and see hopelessness, I strive to help them see possibilities, even in the bleakest of circumstances.
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