staceybooks

There’s something powerful about a second chance, not the kind wrapped in a bow, but the kind that’s fought for, cried over, prayed into existence, and slowly earned back with every hard step forward.

I’ve walked through fire. Not just once…but again and again. I’ve worn the labels, felt the weight of shame, and believed I had ruined every opportunity I would ever get. There was a time when I didn’t see a way out. A felony conviction, broken trust, mental health struggles, suicide attempts…I thought I had disqualified myself from anything good.

But then came the fight.

The fight to believe I was still worthy of a life. The fight to see myself through the eyes of grace. The fight to start again, this time with intention.

And then, came Sean Hosman.

Sean, CEO of Vant4ge and the founder of Persevere, didn’t see a statistic. He saw me, before I could even see myself. At the time, Persevere was just a name with 501(c)(3) status. But together, we breathed life into that name, building something rooted in second chances, skill-building, and transformation. It didn’t happen overnight…but it happened because someone believed in me and gave me a real opportunity.

Today, I serve as a national leader for Persevere, overseeing programs that stretch across state lines and reach deep into prisons, jails, and underserved communities. We teach technology, provide wraparound services, walk alongside those facing impossible odds and most importantly, we restore hope.

And for me, it’s deeply personal…because I am those we serve.

From the single mom on SNAP benefits facing homelessness,
To the person standing in the courtroom pleading guilty,
To the probationer being drug tested every month,
To the individual struggling to pay restitution,
To the person who violated probation because it felt impossible,
To the prisoner behind razor wire,
To the one begging for freedom in front of a parole board,
To the woman learning to advocate for herself,
To the parolee just trying to make it,
To the woman I am today…proving to the world that I am NOT a statistic.

I am no longer a number.
I am a person worthy of redemption.
I am YOU.

My story didn’t end in a courtroom or jail cell. It started there. And now, I get to help others start theirs.

This isn’t just a job. It’s a calling.
This isn’t just about second chances. It’s about proving that we all deserve one.