Owens, at 50 years old, reflects on his life with a sense of gratitude, particularly for the second chances he’s been given and the familial love he’s discovered through the City of Refuge.
“I had to be this hard guy all these years,” Owens shared.
“Now I’m a big teddy bear. City of Refuge has embraced me and allowed me to be myself.”
As a dedicated worker for the nonprofit organization and a mentor in its youth program, Owens takes the time to connect with young men in the community.
Whether it’s attending ballgames, going to the movies, or simply spending time together, he aims to demonstrate to these young individuals that they are loved.
For Owens, this nurturing connection was starkly absent during his childhood on the south side of Atlanta.
Raised by a young, divorced mother battling addiction to crack while trying to care for two boys, he turned to the streets and made poor life choices that ultimately led him to a life sentence in prison at just 18 years old.
The transformative journey of Owens serves as one of many success stories emerging from the reentry program provided by City of Refuge, which helps countless former prisoners transition back into society.
This Christian organization plays a vital role in assisting individuals and families in crisis, offering support that includes food, shelter, and job training.
Greg Washington, who oversees the reentry program and The 345, a transitional housing unit for men, conducts workshops at the Metro Reentry Facility in Atlanta.
This facility is a state prison specifically for men nearing the conclusion of their sentences or those eligible for early release.
In his workshops, Washington often emphasizes the responsibility of those incarcerated: “You guys are going to be the repairers of the breach. I want you to come out, help mentor in our communities, and help create safe spaces.”
The organization plays a pivotal role in ensuring that both male and female prisoners receive necessary support for mental health, substance abuse, and stable housing upon their release.
“What makes our program outstanding is that once we bring them to City of Refuge, we have a wealth of resources available to them,” remarked Washington.
Owens’ relationship with City of Refuge began while he was incarcerated at Metro, awaiting parole.
During one of Washington’s workshops, attendees were challenged to reassess their circumstances and take personal responsibility for their lives.
Owens remembers realizing that he could no longer blame external factors for his troubles.
Washington, seeing a flicker of potential in Owens beyond his troubled past, offered him words of encouragement.
“He looked me in my eyes and told me, ‘You are no longer that person. That’s not you anymore. You’re going to get out of prison and you’re going to work for me,'” Owens recounted.
His sincere belief in Owens lit a spark of hope.
The turning point for Owens came during a moment of prayer while still incarcerated, as he earnestly sought guidance from God.
Since his release in March 2021, Owens has built a new family around him.
Washington has taken on multiple roles in Owens’ life, acting as a mentor, pastor, brother, and confidant.
Now employed as the intake coordinator at The 345 transitional housing complex, Owens also resides there and uses his past experiences to assist others who are reentering society.
He often tells them, “Just because you have a record doesn’t mean your life is ending. You can make a pivotal turnaround and reinvent yourself to become something totally new.”
Owens ensures that the young people he mentors know they can reach out to him anytime, especially when faced with critical decisions.
He wants to provide the guidance and support he wished he had during his own teenage years.
Washington expressed his admiration for men like Owens, watching them transform their lives and positively influence their communities.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see them morph into what they were already doing, but now as free men,” he said.
He hopes that stories like Owens’ can inspire younger generations, potentially steering them away from the path of incarceration.
Ultimately, City of Refuge remains dedicated to changing lives, helping individuals reenter their communities equipped with vital skills for success.
To learn more about the organization, get help, or donate, visit www.cityofrefugeatl.org/
image source from：ajc
