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At Persevere, we’ve learned that the most powerful kind of mentorship often comes from those who have walked similar roads, those who have faced the darkness, climbed out of it, and now shine a light for others. Many of our mentors and volunteers are in recovery themselves. They know what it feels like to start…

I read an article today that stopped me in my tracks. It was called “Headlines Matter: How We Can Push Media to Improve How They Speak About Previously Incarcerated People” by Terrell Blount. And it hit me straight in the soul. The piece described how a Milwaukee news outlet ran a story about Adam Procell,…

When companies talk about “innovation,” they often focus on technology, systems, and strategy. But the real innovation happens when we rethink who gets the opportunity to contribute. At Persevere, we believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Our graduates come from diverse backgrounds, including those who have faced incarceration, poverty, or systemic barriers to…

In today’s workforce, companies often talk about innovation, inclusion, and social responsibility, but few opportunities allow you to invest in all three at once. Partnering with Persevere does. Persevere is more than a nonprofit. It is a movement transforming the way our country approaches workforce development by teaching in-demand technology skills and providing wraparound support…

How would you like to be remembered by the worst thing you have ever done? That question hit me hard today. In our work at Persevere, we see individuals every day who are remembered and judged by their lowest moments: an arrest record, a conviction, a mistake that may have lasted only seconds but shaped…

The nonprofit world is facing one of its toughest seasons yet. Across the country, organizations are being stretched thin as the need for services grows while resources become harder to secure. At Persevere, we see this reality every single day. We work alongside men, women, and youth who are rebuilding their lives after incarceration or…

Nothing. That’s it. That’s the blog. But if I stop here, you’ll feel shortchanged, so let’s take a moment to truly explore…nothing. Nothing is the space between words, the pause in a conversation, the gap between one thought and the next. Nothing is the quiet hum of life when everything else gets still. It’s the…

It’s 11:00, and I’m staring at my house like it’s a battlefield. Today is supposed to be the day – the day I finally purge everything we haven’t used in the last 3 – 6 months. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. This isn’t just cleaning. This is a mission. A solo mission. And I’m dreading it…