Hope came to RVM in 2013. She was homeless, struggling with an addiction to heroin and in financial crisis. When Hope started participating in RVM’s training program, she was unsure she could succeed and could not picture a plan for herself. After several years of...
Stories
Encouragement from Participants
KVM Rising Star
A love for the streets and the lifestyle that goes with that, led Yahynass to spending the last 15 years in prison. In and out, no stability, no care for life, and no care for himself. Life was about getting what he needed, whether legal or not. In 2021, after...
A willingness to grow and a determination to succeed
Prince came home from prison in February of 2017. He had just finished serving a 21-year sentence. During his incarceration, he decided enough is enough. He voluntarily participated in institution programming to enhance his understanding of the world today. National...
Second Chances Matter
Dartavian Watson’s story
Dartavian’s return to Wisconsin and into our program has led him to job & financial security, personal fulfillment, and community involvement.
From Prison Reentrant to College Professor
Anton House’s story
Anton House is a doctor of United States history, earning his doctorate from Howard University, a historically black university in Washington, after serving time in prison for drug peddling…
Another life transformed with Racine Vocational Ministry’s help
RACINE — When greeted by Carl Fields, with his easy smile and gentle demeanor, one might never guess he’d spent 16 years in the Wisconsin prison system. Today, Fields spends his days working as the program manager of Racine’s Hospitality Center — and he spends his...
Racine Vocational Ministry takes holistic approach to job placement
Dana Coleman’s Story
Dana was homeless and didn’t even have bus money when he first came to RVM.
Racine Vocational Ministry helps ex-cons start legal businesses
Journal Times business reporter Michael Burke interviews Racine Vocational Ministry Executive Director Jim Schatzman on this edition of Money Talks, the Journal Times weekly online business show. Recorded on May 6, 2014, at the Journal Times....
A second chance for felons — Local program funded by grants of more than $500,000
About one in three ex-cons in this city ends up back behind bars, but the goal of a new, federally funded program here is to slash that recidivism rate by half. Mayor John Dickert hosted a news conference Wednesday evening at Festival Hall, 5 Fifth St., during which a...