Videos

By Roadtrip Nation

David Andrade

Milestones

My road in life has been direct.
He was raised by his mother and sisters, so he didn't have a strong male role model to look up to.
As a result, his default "mentor" was an older cousin who was constantly in and out of prison.
When he was a teenager, he started doing hard drugs-meth, PCP, cocaine-and he eventually was sent to prison.
After nine years in prison, he was sent home with $200 and not much else.
He'd heard that companies like Walmart and Target were "felon-friendly," but after interviewing for a few different jobs, he never heard back.
One of his biggest problems was his antisocial behavior and his tendency to get into fights, so he signed up for therapy through Homeboy Industries.
Homeboy Industries gave him a job, the right treatment for his drug addiction, and most importantly, a place where he could "feel comfortable."
Worked his way up from a janitor, to now leading Homeboy's solar panel program; he promised his mom he'd never go back to prison, and kept his word.
Keep following my journey

Career

Solar Panel Training and Certification Program Coordinator

I coordinate our solar panel installation training and certification programs.

Career Roadmap

Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Non-Profit Organizations
Teaching / Mentoring

Hurdles

Challenges I Overcame

Drugs / Addiction
Formerly Incarcerated

Interviewed By

Ready to Rise

Ready to Rise

Confronting systemic barriers to success