Our Second Stories

The Second Stories podcast is dedicated to telling stories of people who had first stories full of hardship and hopelessness, yet were able to change the narrative and write their own second story. Their stories of resilience and hope, but also tributes to the people and experiences and organizations that made it possible for them to start again.

Ricky could have become a runaway, and stepped onto the path to homelessness, or succumbed to the promises of gangs who prey upon high school students living marginal lives.

From the time Tim was just a baby until he became too old and "aged out" of the system, he moved in and out of foster care homes and residential placements.

He woke up somewhere different each night, was skipping meals, and did not have space or privacy. Due to his tumultuous situation, Aaron dropped out of his classes.

Our staff believed that there was more to Cassie's situation than met the eye, and that what she was experiencing was a result of an undiagnosed medical condition.

She was soon coerced into prostitution and eventually became pregnant with her son.

"Living with her young son in a rental unit was difficult, and her boyfriend was still involved, and still abusive. She was ready to make a change. She found out about our program for young mothers, and gave us a call."

“Ryan” was just 15 years old and home was not a safe place to be. His mother was struggling with substance abuse, and he was enduring physical abuse at home.

Jennifer realized the gravity of her situation and opened up to our staff. Staff immediately contacted police and helped Jennifer get a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend.

The truth was that Jack was a victim of exploitive child labor and other abuse, and he wasn't the first teen who had been abused by the same individual.

With no place to sleep but a walk-in closet and little food to go around, Ian began spending more and more time at friends’ houses after school.

"But in that moment, she told me not to come home. I guess she had just been holding everything inside until finally, she snapped."

“Gamon” found out she was pregnant when she was on her way to earning an Advanced High School Diploma. She wanted to both graduate from high school and keep her baby.