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Molly Rowe
Molly Rowe
01:27

Molly Rowe

The Last Mile

South Bend, IN USA

"Just keep doing the next right thing."

Career Roadmap

Molly's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Technology, and Helping People

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Day In The Life

Returned Citizen Advocate

I help formerly incarcerated individuals set themselves up for success upon reentry.

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Day In The Life Of A Returned Citizen Advocate

My Day to Day

When someone is released from prison and reaches out to us, they will be added to my case load. Then I reach out to them to discuss their goals. I help them set up a plan and get resumes together. I'll help them learn various digital skills as well. My focus is connecting with people and helping them successfully move onto the next part of their lives.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

While in prison, I was told I should apply for The Last Mile, a 12-month intensive web development program. I didn't think I was smart enough for it. I asked my mom for advice and she encouraged me to apply. I was accepted into the program and grew very close to the small cohort of women who were also accepted. There were many times when we'd doubt our abilities. We just leaned on support from each other and the instructor. It's that support and encouragement from others that got me through.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Business Administration and Management, General

    Indiana University South Bend

  • Certification

    Computer Software Engineering

    The Last Mile

Life & Career Milestones

I've taken a lot of twists and turns

  • 1.

    I grew up in Elkhart, Indiana.

  • 2.

    I was an only child to a single mother but we lived next door to my grandmother, whom I was very close to.

  • 3.

    When my grandmother passed away, I took it very hard and got heavily into drugs.

  • 4.

    I was caught for my first felony at age 38 and then was caught for more and more—I ended up spending three years in Indiana Women’s Prison.

  • 5.

    While in prison, I completed programs with Recovery While Incarcerated and The Last Mile.

  • 6.

    I felt such a sense of belonging from The Last Mile that I immediately reconnected with them and got involved in their community after being released.

  • 7.

    A few months after my release, I was hired as a returned citizen advocate at The Last Mile.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Myself:

    I can't do this. I'm not smart enough. I'll never complete this program.

  • How I responded:

    While in prison, I was told I should apply for The Last Mile, a 12-month intensive web development program. I didn't think I was smart enough for it. I asked my mom for advice and she encouraged me to apply. I was accepted into the program and grew very close to the small cohort of women who were also accepted. There were many times when we'd doubt our abilities. We just leaned on support from each other and the instructor. It's that support and encouragement from others that got me through.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

Click to expand

  • I was very close to my grandmother. When she passed away, I took it very hard and got heavily into drugs. That lifestyle eventually led to incarceration.