At Rise Up Industries we already use eTAP to help our members continue education and obtain their GEDs. With the Coronavirus relegating so many students to learn from home, eTAP is now offering FREE use for all K-12 grades and subjects during school shut down. Our members have loved it, and we’re happy to recommend this free, intuitive and demonstrably effective educational tool. Check it out here: www.etap.org
The San Diego County District Attorney (DA)’s Office is removing tattoos for people who are looking for a fresh start in life – and in their appearance.
The DA’s free laser tattoo removal program started a year ago and helps people remove unwanted tattoos that are gang or human trafficking-related.
“I paroled maybe 3 years ago. So, for the first 2 years, it was a struggle for me because I was no longer that gang member,” said Manuel Chavez, tattoo removal participant.
Manuel spent 22 years in prison and wanted to put the past behind him, but his gang tattoos made that new transition tough.
“I left that life in prison and I was given a fresh opportunity to be a man, a responsible man and I was working and I’m paying my bills. But, I was still stuck with those tattoos and just felt like it was a daily reminder of who I used to be, and if you didn’t know me that’s probably who you thought I was,” said Chavez.
Chavez heard about the DA’s tattoo removal program in December 2018 through the organization, Rise Up Industries.
He immediately signed up to get his four gang tattoos removed. Today, one is completely gone and his other three have been lightened.
“When I meet people, whether it’s at church or family members or new friends when we go out –it’s kind of refreshing and it makes me feel good to know that they don’t know who I am or who I was. They know who I am now that I share that with them but they don’t know who I was, unless I share that with them. It’s a total blessing to me. I’m so glad the District Attorney’s office reached out and presented this golden opportunity to Rise Up Industries,” said Chavez.
For the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the idea for the tattoo removal program was sparked after the DA’s office talked to people released from custody. Many voiced similar concerns about their past tattoos.
“They were struggling with the reminders that the tattoos presented. They would be struggling whether it was physical, someone looking at them and instead of looking in their eyes, looking at their tattoos—while they were applying for a job or taking the bus, walking down the beach, just trying to move ahead,” said Shawnalyse Ochoa, Deputy DA, Assistant Division Chief of Juvenile Branch.
The program not only works to removes tattoos but also serves as a way for the DA’s office to connect with the participants through the series of treatments needed to remove the tattoos.
Dear Mr. Manny
I appreciate you sharing your story before and in prison. It means a lot, sharing things like that, I knew that because I was going down the same path and it was hard to talk about it. I felt like people didn’t understand me, so I fought a lot for no reason. When you shared your family was involved in gangs I related to you a lot growing up with a family which almost all your cousins bang it’s hard to go down the right path and do right because that’s all you know. But I learned I have to be the one to set the example for my little cousins, they are looking up to me so I’m not going to go down that same path – I’m going to create my own.
Lincoln HS Student
As the gang prevention program our members give back to the community speaking at schools and different organizations, specially with youth. here is a sample of a letter that Manny received from an student who was in speaking engagement days ago.
Seeing a fully tattooed person in a shady neighborhood can create all kinds of negative assumptions. Many of our members find the first step in leaving old life is recognizing that tattoos are unwelcome in the workplace.
It is a painful procedure that can take more than a year to remove if the tattoo is a large cover-up, or if it’s in color. Most importantly, the process is symbolic. “It’s like a rebirthing. People can’t keep them if they want to move forward with their lives.”
“The biggest thing is betrayal, and that’s kind of a word not spoken. Some of these men feel as though they’re betraying their old way of life by coming in. And I think that that often undergirds the friction: ‘Well, don’t disrespect my homies, don’t disrespect where I came from.’ And internally, there’s a sense of betrayal when they wipe out a tattoo: ‘Am I giving up that old life or part of my history?’ I’ve had people say to me, ‘In my heart, I’ll always be part of my old neighborhood.’ It’s understandable. You struggle to go beyond it—these men, it’s their history. They want to let go of it, but they also feel as though they’re betraying it if they do, selling out the old person.”
“This program saved my life,” Larry said. “I always thought I’d be a statistic, either dead or in jail. They actually care; they ain’t just talk,” he said. “They help you out in so many ways: giving us a career, job, work ethics, whatever. I never met anybody who asked you, ‘What’s going on in your life?’ and actually try to help me change it.” Larry Vitello, current member at RUI .
John completed our 18-month program and became our third graduate on April 2nd of this year. We are pleased to report that John was hired by CIM. During his 18 months with Rise Up Industries, John has been very involved with giving back and assisting others.
Their volunteer work included:
* Serving at Father Joe’s Villages soup kitchen
* Speaking regularly with Justice Involved Youth at the Salvation Army on Thursday nights
*Speaking at monarch School
* Leading efforts to create a local Criminal and Gang Member Anonymous (CGA) program
Joe Tapia will complete his 18 month program and become our fourth graduate on May 2nd of this year. he had an early celebration.
Mission Edge, a nonprofit organization backed by the San Diego Foundation and three corporations, has chosen 10 companies and organizations to participate in a 12-week program intended to improve each entity’s financial performance, and thereby long-term sustainability. One of the 10 nonprofits is Rise Up Industries!
Check the article here
A Shop That Rises Up to Help On Many Levels’
This CNC machine-operator training program helps individuals prepare for sustainable employment as a vital element for successful reentry into society and departure from gang life. Please click the photo below to see the whole amazing article
