After his release from incarceration, Thabbit faced difficulties securing employment and housing, resulting in a period of homelessness. He described this time as a “downward spiral,” although he was reluctant to accept any help from others. While working with a counselor at the time, he was encouraged to seek services at The Fortune Society, and Thabbit eventually decided to attend one of the Thursday Night Community Meetings at the Fortune Academy. This one meeting launched Thabbit forward on a journey of personal development and growth.  

Thabbit lived at the Academy, or the Castle, for several years before moving into Castle Gardens as a permanent resident in 2017. Since connecting with Fortune, he has remained immensely grateful for the opportunities presented to him through the organization.  

“When I came to the meeting, I was open with everyone about my situation,” Thabbit explained. “I had been humbled enough that I was honest and shared my story and what I felt, and I ended up being able to move in after that. That’s what I have learned, to just say what’s on your mind and whatever is meant to happen is going to happen.”

After moving into the Castle, Thabbit joined a running club with other members of the Fortune community to help build a positive routine. He ran three days a week with the group, and this consistent routine quickly became something to look forward to.  

Alongside this running group, Thabbit trained for and completed six marathons. He ran his first marathon at 65 years old with Fortune’s team the Fortune Flyers. 

Thabbit explained that he is committed to learning and personal development, and that many of these growth opportunities have come through Fortune. As an alumnus, he regularly attends the Castle’s Thursday night meetings to learn from other members of his community. He also attends some of the weekly AA and NA meetings, again to learn from others’ experiences.

“I’m not restricted from learning from other people’s experiences as well as my own,” Thabbit explained. “You can be on the other side of a situation, but that doesn’t mean your past doesn’t impact you. But by continuing to learn, I have been maintaining myself and my goals and aspirations.”

Thabbit is also committed to kickstarting a new running group with Castle Gardens residents called “Uptown.” As he prioritizes his health and wellbeing, Thabbit hopes to encourage other residents to get moving.

Through his involvement with The Fortune Society, Thabbit rebuilt his life after a period of hardship and discovered the value of routine and ongoing learning. His commitment to both personal growth and giving back to others highlights the importance of supportive environments in helping individuals overcome challenges and pursue lasting positive change.

“Fortune… has everything that a person needs to redirect and get their life back in place,” Thabbit said. “The different programs that they have are awesome, and I wish I had taken advantage of them earlier. For the sake of learning and being able to have knowledge or learn new skills, no program can beat [Fortune].”