REAL LIFE

The summer heat is here, and so is cookout season!

House N earned House of the Month, marking their second win. To celebrate, Peer House Leader Clinton and the men of House N enjoyed a cookout filled with good food, fellowship, and time spent together.

House of the Month is awarded based on factors like participation, teamwork, and creating a positive living environment. House N continues to set a great example, and we're proud of the consistency, effort, and positive attitude they bring each day.

Congratulations to House N on another well-deserved achievement!

Today, we recognize Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates freedom, resilience, and progress.

At REAL LIFE, we believe every person deserves the opportunity to thrive. As we reflect on the significance of this day, we also recognize the importance of continuing to create pathways to hope, stability, and opportunity in our communities.

Happy Juneteenth.

It’s , and today we’re celebrating Glenn!

Glenn works for a company that creates custom fixtures for businesses, where he serves as a Forklift Operator. His role includes unloading inbound trucks and delivering materials to workstations throughout the facility, helping keep operations running smoothly and efficiently.

Glenn says he enjoys the independence his job provides and takes pride in playing an important role in his company’s productivity. This month, his hard work and dedication were recognized with a well-earned raise!

We are proud of Glenn and the commitment he brings to work every day. Join us in congratulating him on this exciting accomplishment!

For today’s , we’re excited to introduce Katie, the Peer House Leader of REAL LIFE’s first-ever Female Graduate House!

Katie’s recovery journey began long before she arrived at REAL LIFE. Growing up in Pennsylvania, a high school sports injury led to prescribed pain medication, and by age 19, her substance use disorder had progressed to he**in use. After moving to Virginia and giving birth to her daughter, a return to use led to her arrest and the loss of custody. Determined to rebuild her life, Katie learned about REAL LIFE through Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail and the WAITT program. Upon her release, she entered REAL LIFE, where she found the structure, accountability, and support she needed. Katie graduated from the program in July 2025 and is currently working toward becoming an Alumni.

Today, Katie serves as the Peer House Leader of our Female Graduate House, helping create a supportive environment where women can continue growing in their recovery while building their futures.

“The new graduate house for women has been an incredible opportunity for us to continue growing and thriving in our recovery while building strong foundations for our future,” Katie shares. “Being a Peer House Leader has been a welcome challenge and an amazing experience that has helped me grow both personally and in my recovery journey.”

Katie has also achieved important milestones beyond the program. She was recently promoted to manager at the restaurant where she works, and her relationship with her daughter is stronger than ever.

“We just celebrated her third birthday, and I was grateful to have the opportunity to make her day extra special and create memories that I will cherish forever,” Katie says.

Congratulations, Katie! We are so proud of all you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see what’s next.

This week, we're excited to highlight Elvis, a REAL LIFE graduate who is approaching an important milestone, his two-year anniversary working at a boutique hotel in Richmond!

Elvis says he still enjoys getting up and going to work each day. He takes pride in being a reliable employee, giving his best effort, and helping create a positive experience for every guest. He also values the strong relationships he has built with his coworkers and enjoys being part of a team that works together to keep the hotel looking its best.

Congratulations, Elvis! Your dedication, consistency, and strong work ethic continue to inspire us. We are proud of all you have accomplished and look forward to celebrating many more milestones ahead.

This week, we are excited to introduce Perry, who recently joined REAL LIFE as part of our team serving men in the Domestic Violence Prevention Program.

Perry was born in Junction City, Kansas, while his father was serving in the military. Although his family is originally from Richmond, growing up meant moving frequently and learning how to adapt to new environments. Eventually, Perry found himself heading down the wrong path, which led to incarceration.

While incarcerated, Perry participated in the IYC (Inmate Youth Connection) program, speaking with young people who were heading down the same road he once traveled. He shared the reality of prison life and encouraged them to make different choices before it was too late. The experience reinforced something he already knew about himself: he wanted to help others change direction and build a better future.

“I want other people to not go down the path that I went in,” he says. “It can be done. It’s a second chance. You’ve just got to put the time and effort into it.”

Perry is the father of three children, ages 15, 12, and 10. He also experienced the loss of both of his parents while incarcerated, a loss that continues to shape and motivate him today. His goal is simple but powerful: to make them proud and to make sure his children are proud of him too.

We are excited to have Perry on the team and grateful for the lived experience, compassion, and perspective he brings to this work. Please help us welcome him to REAL LIFE and drop your encouragement in the comments below!

Until recently, REAL LIFE only had graduate houses for men, places for male Lifers who had completed the program but wanted continued support while building their next chapter.

A female graduate house had been discussed from time to time, but the timing and need had never lined up.

Jessica, REAL LIFE Deputy Director, shared, “With a smaller female population, we just weren't sure if it would be the best move.”

That changed when a close-knit group of female Lifers graduated around the same time and hoped to continue living together after graduation. The idea of a female graduate house finally made sense, and REAL LIFE made it happen.

The women recently moved in and are already beginning to settle into life together in this new season. Including attending REAL LIFE’s gala together (and having fun at the photobooth)!

Graduates receive Part Two of the REAL LIFE curriculum after graduation, and the ladies have already started working through it together. They can also work toward becoming Alumni, which encourages Lifers to continue the habits that support long-term recovery, such as attending meetings and staying connected with their sponsors.

Jessica points to the staff as a big reason graduates continue choosing to stay connected to REAL LIFE. “Our staff works tirelessly to ensure that our folks have a place to call home, not just a bed in a program house. It's so much more than that.”

As needs change, REAL LIFE continues adapting to meet people where they are, and this new home is just one more example of that.

Congratulations to the men and women at Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail on their recent graduation from the WAITT program!

WAITT, which stands for We Are In This Together, is a behavior modification program for incarcerated individuals that includes weekly REAL LIFE facilitation, Real Talk with REAL LIFE curriculum, public health education, and other recovery-focused meetings and programming.

For REAL LIFE Project SAF (Safe, Alive, and Free) Life Coach Savanna, this graduation was especially meaningful. Before entering REAL LIFE and later joining our staff, Savanna participated in the WAITT program during her own incarceration.

“The program gave me structure, teamwork practice, and helped me learn that addiction is a disease that I can recover from. It was a wonderful stepping stone in my recovery. It helped me integrate into the REAL LIFE program and then from there, into society as a whole. My goal is to give these individuals in the WAITT program hope that things can get better.”

Savanna was joined at the graduation by two other former WAITT participants, Melissa, a REAL LIFE Pathway Navigator, and Khaliah, a REAL LIFE graduate.

Congratulations to the WAITT graduates! We are proud to see REAL LIFE staff and graduates returning to encourage and inspire those who are beginning their own journey.

It's the first Friday of the month, which means it's time to recognize a couple of Lifers who are doing great things in their recovery journeys.

Chris H. was nominated by our Deputy Director, Jessica, who shared that Chris has been doing a fantastic job. He attends meetings consistently, communicates well with staff, and is a respectful, kind presence in the program.

Chris shared: "I would like to thank everyone at the REAL LIFE program and all they have done for me. Without the REAL LIFE program, I would still be homeless and without hope in my life. They have given me structure, and I appreciate Jessica and everyone at the REAL LIFE program. They have given me a new way to look at life through recovery and my sobriety. It is a true blessing in my life."

Our second Flourishing Friday honoree is Luis, who was nominated by Pathway Navigator Melissa. Since entering the program, Luis has remained focused on his goals, attends meetings regularly, and is committed to his recovery journey.

Luis shared: "REAL LIFE has inspired me to keep moving forward no matter what my past looked like... live for today and not for tomorrow!"

Congratulations to Chris and Luis! We are proud of both of these men and all they have accomplished. Help us celebrate them by sharing some words of encouragement in the comments below.