My name is John A. Williams Jr. I am a 20 year vet. of the AL DOC. I was incarcerated from the age of 17 to 37 for manslaughter. I am a motivated, ambitious as well as strong mentally and physically. I am a 1st time Father of a beautiful baby girl. Janyla Nicole Love Williams is 2 1/2 weeks old.
July 9th I will be home now for 3 years. I’ve done more time in prison than I have done in society. When I came home it was get a job and things will be better for you. Not. No one wants to hire a 20 year convict. Not knowing anything about me or if I can do the job. I have stacked bricks on pallets. 600 bricks to a pallet for $25 in the hot sun. I’ve walked roads picking up cans. I was doing what was needed of me in what’s called the free world. That wasn’t enough! I still didn’t feel like I was a man because a man works. I’ve been fired from 2 temp services just for being an ex-felon.
Then one night A Cut Above the Rest came on Channel 8 news. Something for Ex-felons. Ms. Pitts is what we say Kryptonite, meaning motivated. Ms. Pitts and A Cut Above the Rest is what is needed because there is no programs out there for ex-felons.
This class has given me back the control I needed. No more prison for me and I tell everyone I meet about A Cut Above the Rest. With the skills and training Ms. Pitts has given me I have received a beautiful job. We just completed Employability skills training and with that I was able to update my resume.
I start work with my new job tonight. This class is a must for an ex-felon because you are around those that are facing the hardship of being an ex-felon that’s trying to get their life back or simply have one after 20 years.
