Story by Josh Thomas, Marketing Coordinator at New Door Ventures
Daniel sits across from me on a warm afternoon at New Door. He is a confident young man, sporting a black leather jacket, dark-colored jeans, and a black hat. However, after talking to Daniel for more than a few minutes, it’s clear that he has had to travel far to make it here.
To say that Daniel did not come from privilege would be an understatement. Both of his parents died before he was 14, and he and his four younger siblings had to leave their home in Alaska to live with their aunt in the East Bay.
Moving in with his aunt, an ordained minister, would seem like a healthy transition for a boy dealing with so much grief. However, the new “home” offered much more tumult than tranquility.
Daniel’s aunt often berated him with abusive name-calling. When Daniel was 16, he and his aunt had an argument, after which she called her god-son, Freddie, and complained to him about Daniel. Freddie, who worked as a security guard, immediately came over to the aunt’s house.
When Freddie arrived, he handcuffed Daniel and took him to the apartment complex where he worked. There, he started calling him awful names, physically abused him with a baton, and put a sign around Daniel’s neck that read, “I will not be rude to my aunt.” Freddie then paraded Daniel, still bound by the handcuffs, around the apartment complex, telling Daniel he would regret having ever been rude to his aunt. Some neighborhood teenagers saw the occurrence and made Freddie stop the abuse. Freddie took Daniel back to his aunt’s house and threatened him that if he told anyone, the “punishment” would be even worse.
Back at the house, Daniel’s aunt defended Freddie’s actions. Daniel did not feel safe there and ran away. He called the police and asked to be taken into custody. Child Protective Services moved Daniel and his siblings into foster care, where Daniel lived with a foster family until he was 19.
Out on his own, Daniel was still grieving the loss of his parents, dealing with an abusive past, lacking real support, and in desperate need of a job- all at a time when unemployment rates were 44% for youth in Daniel’s demographic. Unable to find work, Daniel admittedly made a poor decision and stole some merchandise from a department store. He was caught and served time in jail for the crime.
Upon his release, Daniel vowed to make a fresh start. He still lacked real work experience or any supportive community, so when he came across New Door at a youth job fair, he jumped at the opportunity.
Placed in New Door’s Ally program, Daniel became an office assistant in the financial district and developed a tremendous work ethic. “I learned how to arrive on time and ready for work, how to dress [appropriately] for the office, and how to keep a good attitude while performing my job.”
Daniel graduated from the Ally program in August 2011 and hopes to one day work as a fashion stylist. He is taking steps toward his career goals and is in his first semester of college classes in business, fashion design and web design. He still regularly meets with his case manager and is thriving with the support of that relationship. She continues to help Daniel find an apartment and apply for financial aid.
“New Door gives me a great support system, from helping me find housing to making sure I eat healthy food.” He feels he has truly found a home at New Door.
Daniel has other life ambitions as well. “With everything I’ve been through in life, I look at my challenges as a motivation. I want to inspire my brothers and sisters and let them know they can make it. I also want to be a licensed foster parent and provide a safe home for other foster youth.”
*All events portrayed in the story are accurate and true as told by the subject. However, names, dates and photos have been changed to protect anonymity.