Miss Kim first connected with The Fortune Society last October after spending almost 31 years incarcerated. Upon arriving at Fortune, she was welcomed by kind and understanding individuals who helped her adjust to life after incarceration. During that time, Miss Kim turned to spirituality as a healing tool.
Miss Kim spreads messages of hope and faith to the other women in her community, and at Fortune, she continues to share that same idea of leading with love. She is grateful to have found a strong support system from staff and other participants.
“When I first came here, I felt a wave of love and peace. Everybody is so helpful and kind. I was incarcerated for so many years, so this place has been wonderful to help me come back.”
While incarcerated, Miss Kim formed strong connections with other women rooted in faith and compassion. They inspired her to seek leadership roles in various programs, including a position as an assistant GED teacher and tutor, a worship leader and a choir director. By getting involved, Miss Kim became a mentor, friend and maternal figure in her community. She taught the other women to lead with kindness and encouraged them to rely on one another for support.
“I learned that the sooner you forgive, the sooner you have peace. I try to be good to everybody. I told the girls that this is the simplest way to live. It is all about finding peace.”
At Fortune, Miss Kim found a community of motivated women in the Women Rising program. Being surrounded by such a strong and driven group of women left Miss Kim feeling inspired, and she appreciated finding a network that she could learn from and feel supported by.
As part of the Women Rising program, Miss Kim participated in the Entrepreneurship course, where she learned more about creating a business and taking advantage of her talents. The program also helped Miss Kim develop important foundational skills, like crafting a resume and presenting herself more professionally. Now, she plans to continue learning as much as she can.
She is currently enrolled in the GED course and plans to focus more on career readiness and skill-building after graduation. In particular, she expressed interest in taking Fortune’s Digital Equity classes.
“Since I was incarcerated for many years, there are things I don’t know yet. I never had a cell phone or a computer, so this is all very new for me. I am excited to know more!”
Miss Kim shared that although she has been challenged by the classes at Fortune, continuing to learn and hone her skills has been fulfilling. Each day, she comes to Fortune eager to grow and hopefully inspire others in the community to challenge themselves and remain rooted in faith, as well.