By Gary Byers, Deputy Director
Jerome arrived at Helping Up Mission in October 2010 already with 28 days of clean time – but he knew he needed more.
Before long, Jerome realized he wanted lots more than just clean time. So, he signed up to work toward earning his high school diploma. He received it in May 2011, one of almost two dozen HUM guys who earned one that year.
When Jerome arrived here he had no teeth left, due to his addiction and lifestyle. With the help of our community partners, he received a complete new mouth-full of teeth – one of almost seventy HUM clients that year with extractions, cavities filled, crowns, root canals or dentures from University of Maryland School of Dentistry.
In October 2011, Jerome completed our 12-month residential Spiritual Recovery Program – one of over one hundred men that year.
But he still wasn’t done. Living in graduate transitional housing here on campus, he started college in the spring of 2012. This June – with a BA in Human Services from Sojourner Douglass College – Jerome became the first member of his family to ever graduate from college!
And, with just one more course, he’ll have trainee status as an addictions counselor. Now Jerome’s set his sights on going back to work in that same Eastern Shore facility which sent him here almost 5 years ago!
Now, that’s transformation!