Staying the Course: Tobias’s Journey Forward

When Tobias returned to the community after incarceration, he knew rebuilding his life would take work.

Finding stable housing and employment proved difficult. Transportation created another barrier, and his background closed doors to jobs and training opportunities. But Tobias was determined that his past would not dictate what came next.

“I experienced being denied jobs because of my past, and I refused to be discouraged,” Tobias said. “I was determined that a mistake I made in my past was not going to determine my future.”

His journey with City of Refuge began before his release from prison, when he participated in our reentry program that helped him prepare for life back in the community. He learned about additional resources available at City of Refuge and decided to take full advantage of the opportunities in front of him.

After his release, Tobias moved into City of Refuge’s housing program for men. During his four months there, he focused on building stability while enrolling in the Automotive Technician Training Program. Tobias had some experience working on cars and saw the automotive industry as an opportunity to build something lasting. He wasn’t simply looking for his next job. He wanted a skill that could become a career.

The months that followed required commitment. While navigating the challenges of reentry, Tobias continued to show up, learn, and work toward the future he wanted. That work paid off. Tobias graduated from the Automotive Technician Training Program and secured employment. Today, he continues to improve his automotive skills with the goal of eventually taking on mobile automotive work.

For Tobias, completing the program meant more than learning a trade. It proved something to himself.

“Through graduating, I realized it’s about providing proof to myself that I can commit to something, overcome obstacles, learn something new, and see it through to the end.”

Tobias describes his life today as moving gradually. There is still work ahead, but in just a matter of months, he has returned home, built greater stability, learned a new trade, and found employment.

None of it came easily. Tobias earned each step by continuing to show up, staying committed, and refusing to let his past determine his future.

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